L

/h i

II.

(1) Field-Lab Technician IIC* System Support Specialist II

(1) Clerk Typist IId. Asst. Scientist II (Plant Pathology)e. Curator II (Brassica, Grasses)f. Curator II (Vegetables)4. Curator II (Sunflowers)h. Curator II (Amaranth)

PROGRESS OF WORK (P. K. Bretting)

T. LadjahasanP. LundeenL. Minor6. BlockR. LuhmanK. ReitsmaM, BrothersD. Brenner

Personnel changes:

Resignations: Janae Colvin, Biological Aide, accepted a job with a higher- _promotion potential at the National Animal Disease Center. Jeffrey Blankman,Biological Aide, resigned to continue his education full-time at Iowa StateUniversity. Naomi Harrold, Agricultural Research Technician, moved to Illinois,where her husband had accepted a position.New hires: David Kovach was hired as an Agricultural Research Technician. MaryBrothers was hired as Sunflower Curator. Federal hiring was slowed by a freezethat lasted much of the spring and summer.Promotions: William Van Roekel was promoted to GS-7, Jeanne Edwards, IrvinLarsen, Becky Rasmussen, and Maurianna Young-Smith were promoted to GS-4. All ofthe P & S employees were promoted as a result of re-classification: CharlesBlock--Assistant Scientist II; Larry Lockhart--Research Station SuperintendentII; Peter Lundeen-- System Support Specialist II; David Brenner, Mary Brothers,Richard Luhman, Kathleen Reitsma, and Mark Millard--all Curator II.

Construction:

Construction of a greenhouse attached to the Entomology Building was initiated,but proceeded very slowly because of the abnormally wet year.

(IV summarizes the accomplishments and progress that are presented in greaterdetail in the individual staff reports later in the document.)

IV. PROGRESS 1N GERMPLASM MANAGEMENT, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION (P. K. Bretting)

Acquisition:

More than 1900 germplasm accessions were acquired by the NCRPIS during 1993(details listed under the curators' reports).

Significant acquisitions included:

More than 260 accessions of Brassica were acquired from Prof. Cesar Gomez-Campoof Spain.

Dr. W. Roath, Dr. M. Widrlechner, and graduate student R. Fuentes-Granadoscollected germplasm of-Cuphea, Zinnia, and Sanvitalia during a five-week plantexploration in north central Mexico.

Forty-four maize inbred lines were secured at the request of the American SeedTrade Association‘s Gorn Variety Identification Committee to serve as "authentic"

2

sources for PVP purposes. These inbreds are being regenerated at the NCRPIS andelsewhere and are being assayed via isozyme and RFLP analysis for varietal purity.

Maintenance:

More than 41,000 accessions representing more than 300 genera and 1500 speciesare now maintained at the NCRPIS.

Germplasm cryostorage capabilities were significantly enhanced by the addition ofnew liquid nitrogen and -80' C equipment.

In an extensive effort also involving personnel at the National Seed StorageLaboratory, all non-accessioned NCRPIS accessions were assigned either Ames or P.I. numbers before provisions of the Convention for Biodiversity went into effectin late December, 1993.

More than 2500 accessions were "backed-up" in long-term storage at the NationalSeed Storage Laboratory (NSSL).

A computerized bar-coding system for seed storage packets and containers wasimplemented.

An alarm system was installed to protect the seed storage facilities.

The NCRPIS's seed storage and seed science capabilities were significantlyenhanced when a GS-8 USDA/ARS technician with an M. S. in seed science was hired.This addition, the excellent service provided by our other seed technician, andthe allocation of additional resources to seed processing, has enabled US toreduce substantially the number of unprocessed accessions and to increase theproportion of our collection which is "backed-up" at the NSSL.

The NCRPIS Operations Manual was finally compiled and distributed to all NCRPISstaff, and to the Associate Deputy Administrator, Genetic Resources.

Regeneration:

More than 1600 accessions were cultivated for seed increase at the NCRPIS or attropical sites. The success rate for germplasm regeneration was greatlydiminished by the abnormally high rainfall during the spring and summer of 1993(see below).

Six hundred and sixty one accessions were regenerated using insect pollinators incages.

The NCRPIS's germplasm regeneration program received valuable assistance fromseed companies. Limagrain and Northrup King regenerated maize, Asgrow and ARC0regenerated carrots, and Spreckles regenerated Beta,

An encouraging number of honey bees survived the winter in the NCRPIS's new "bee-overwintering" facility. This facility should decrease the annual cost of thecontrolled pollination program, and protect the NCRPIS's bee colonies from pestsand diseases.

3

4

* i

The utility of positive pressure cabinets for regenerating Spinacia accessions inthe greenhouse was tested.

Distribution:

More than 18,000 seed packets were distributed to researchers in the U. S. (ca.75% of the total) and abroad (the remaining 25%).

One hundred and ninety vegetative cuttings were distributed. More than 550individual landscape plants were distributed for long-term evaluation at 29 sitesin the North Central Region.

Testing germplasm's germination, viability, and health:

More than 4853 accessions were assayed for their germination/viabilitypercentages.

Inventory and data entry:

Substantial resources (especially personnel) were allocated to reducing thebacklog of field and characterization data which have not yet been entered intocomputer files.

A local-area network (LAN) was established at the NCRPIS farm headquarters. Thisnetwork may aid especially our curatorial effort.

The NCRPIS computer staff continued to cooperate with other sites in the NationalPlant Germplasm System in the initial development of a revised version (GRIN3) ofthe Germplasm Resources Information Network.

Characterization:

Morphological characterization data were recorded for maize, Brassica, millets,carrots, amaranths, cucurbits, and other crops. With amaranths, characterizationdata are facilitating de-activation of redundant samples.

The NCRPIS staff continued a cooperative project with Iowa State University'sSeed Science researchers for developing an integrated, computerized imageacquisition and management system. A protoype of "Corn-Base", a database formanaging maize ear images, is now being tested.

Isozyme analyses revealed that genetic diversity in anise hyssop is apportionedlargely within populations.

Evaluation:

Screening of Peruvian maize accessions for host-plant resistance to European CornBorer identified 11 accessions with host-plant resistance which appparently isconferred by a mechanism other than presence of DIMBOA.

Accessions of maize, millets, brassicas, Cuphea, and mints were evaluated forgeneral agronomic or horticultural merit.

More than 200 maize accessions were evaluated for host-plant resistance (insilks) to corn earworm feeding. Five hundred maize accessions were evaluated forhost-plant resistance to 1st generation European Corn Borer, and one hundred andseventy accessions were evaluated for host-plant resistance to 1st generationEuropean Corn Borer.

Climatic variables recently identified from lo-year survival rates of Yugoslavianwoody plants introduced to the Midwest served as criteria for selecting easternEuropean regions for future plant exploration.

Twenty-four amaranth accessions were evaluated for host-plant resistance to lygusbug feeding.

Efforts to refine an assay for host-plant resistance to sunflower moth and cornearworm feeding continued.

Evaluation of the entire NPGS active collection of cultivated sunflower for host-plant resistance to Puccinia helianthi race 4 was completed.

Research continued with seed transmission and disease etiology of Erwiniastewartii, the causal agent for Stewart's wilt.

Enhancement:

An interspecific mint hybrid is being developed as a potentially superior nectarsource for honey bees. Genetic enhancement of another mint species is alsounderway.

Colchicine-doubled fertile (cuphea lutea X C.viscosissima) F, lines were screenedfor capric and lauric acid content,-which was found to be equivalent tothat of the C. viscosissima parent.

Pollen-sterile accessions of Amaranthus and Chenopodium were identified. Thisgermplasm may be useful in breeding programs for these crops.

Health, safety, and EEO progress:

Many of the NCRPIS staff attended seminars regarding Worker Right-to-Know Laws,and Tractor Safety. Several staff members attended seminars regardingsupervision, OSHA Laboratory training, and Dust Mask Training.

All field workers received training in the proper use of dust masks. All NCRPISlaboratories compiled extensive files of Material Safety Data Sheets for allchemicals in use, and assembled detailed protocol for all experimentalprocedures.

Charlene Gooch, of ISU's Employee Assistance Program, made a short presentationto the staff regarding the former program. Jan Padgitt, ISU's Affirmative ActionOfficer, was consulted regarding ways of tactfully informing visiting scientists(especially international visitors) about NCRPIS, ISU, and USDAjARS expectationswith respect to acceptable behavior toward NGRPIS employees.

Several NCRPIS staff arranged a "Native American" dinner which featured NativeAmerican cuisine and a Native American guest speaker.

Program Review:

The NCRPIS underwent a program review during 18-21 April 1993 by two teams, onecomposed of four SAES directors from the North Central Region, and anothercomposed of USDA/ARS, university, and private-sector scientists.

The main recommendations issuing from the review include: developing contingencyplans for budgetary crises that rank NCRPIS functions by priority; backing-up allNCRPIS accessions at the NSSL and obtaining duplicates of NSSL accessions for theNCRPIS; expediting the appropriate disposition of "Ames-numbered accessions;"updating passport information and incorporating data into GRIN speedily;improving methods of characterizing utilization and retrieving informationregarding germplasm's biological behavior; expanding outreach activities topublicize the NCRPIS and its mission; increasing the NCRPIS staff's computercompetence; considering the re-location of certain NCRPIS crops (e.g., beets,carrots, cucurbits).

The review team endorsed the NCRPIS's aspiration to become the best managementsite for seed-propagated germplasm in the world.

The NCRPIS staff drafted a plan for implementing the 1993 NCRPIS Review Team'srecommendations which was reviewed and endorsed by relevant USDA/ARS, NCR-SAES,and ISU officials.

6

The 1993 Flood:

More than 50" of rain fell between 1 Apr. and 1 Oct. 1994. Without the 4-wheel-drive tractor purchased in early 1993, little tilling and planting would havebeen possible during 1993. The rainfall initially affected the NCRPIS'sregeneration effort by delaying planting several weeks. The last accessions weresown ca. 15 June: only about two-thirds of the usual total number of accessionswere planted.

The effect of the heavy rain on the field plantings varied greatly according tothe crop and the field in which the crop was cultivated. The Helianthus andCalendula regeneration efforts were comparatively successful, as substantialquantities of high-quality achenes were secured. In contrast, relatively few ofthe cucurbit regenerations were successful, and all of the Cuphea and corianderfield trials were lost, as was much of the Helianthus disease evaluation trial.To sum, it is estimated that the 1993 regeneration program yielded only ca. 40%of the high-quality seed that is secured during a normal year.

V. INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS REPORTS

A. Cennplasm maintenance, evaluation, and enhancement of Cuphea and other newcrop species (W.W. Roath)

Acquisition:

New accessions: We acquired 38 Cuphea accessions in 1993.

Significant progress: We collected C. lanceolata and three other Cuphea speciesin Mexico during September and Octobar 1993. Dr. Widrlechner, NCRPISHorticulturist, and Mr. R. Fuentes, Graduate Research Assistant, also collectedZinnia and Sanvitalia species from the same area. We were joined in thiscooperative venture by Mr. A, Campos from Instituto de Biologia, UniversidadNational Autdnoma de Mexico. Twenty of the 31 Cuphea accessions collected duringthis trip were specimens of c, lanceolata. Two accessions of C. aequipetala, twoof C. hyssopifolia, and seven accessions of C, wrightii were also collected.

Maintenance and distribution:

Number and percentage of total Cuphea accessions

*These accessions were grown in 1993; their seed is being processed at the time ofthis report.

Distribution of C. lanceolata and C. viscosissima

Total 157 247

Significant progress: Although 1993 was a difficult year for Cuphea in thefield because of the excessive precipitation, we did make some progress inregenerating unavailable accessions. We do not yet know the number ofaccessions grown in 1993 that have enough seed for distribution and forbackup at NSSL. We nearly doubled the number of accessions backed up in1993 over the previous years (278 total accessions are now duplicated atNSSL as compared to 145 as of Jan. 1993). We did secure additional seed ofsome of the Brazilian accessions that did not germinate in 1992. Thesewill be grown in 1994. Interest in Cuphea continues to be dominated byforeign scientists (149 seed packets were sent to foreign requesters in1993 compared to 98 to domestic requesters).

Characterization/taxonomy:

The data from accessions regenerated in 1992 were entered into GRIN, andcharacterization data for accessions regenerated in 1993 are beingrecorded. Photographs of 1993 field grown accessions were taken and filed.

Evaluation/Enhancement:

Four hundred and seventy-eight I?, half-sib hybrid Cuphea families, selectedin 1992 for seedling emergence at Ames, were grown in replicated trials attwo locations in 1993. Two accessions, one hybrid and one 2. lanceolatacultivar, served as checks. Seedling emergence was nil at Ames and onlyspotty at Crawfordsville due to excessive rain. Individual plants fromlines with greater than 50% seedling emergence at Crawfordsville wereharvested. Seeds from these plants will be planted at two locations in 1994to determine adaptability. F, seed from colchicine-doubled fertile C. luteaX 2. viscosissima hybrid plants had capric and lauric acid content equal tothe C. viscosissima parent.

Forty-six 3rd-cycle coriander half-sib families selected for increased oilcontent were grown in replicated trials at two locations. The Ames trialswere abandoned because of poor seedling emergence due to excessive rain.The Crawfordsville trials were harvested, and agronomic data (includingyield) were recorded. Seed has been forwarded to NCAUR to determine oilcontent. Yields were disappointing, with a maximum of approximately 600kg/ha. On the other hand, the yield of the highest-yielding half-sibfamily was 470% of the commercial-check cultivar,

8

viscosissima Jacq. In preparation,

Roath, W.W., M.P. Widrlechner, and R. Kleiman. Morphological and agronomicvariability in Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. Submitted to Journal of IndustrialCrops and Products, 1993.

Widrlechner, M.P., W.W. Roath, R. Fuentes, and A. Campos. CollectingS a n v i t a l i a ,Cuphea, and Zinnia in Mexico. In preparation.

Other items:

Graduate student Weiping Chen has elected to continue his studies in theGenetics Department.

The Cooperative Research Agreement with Oregon State University has beenterminated.

Conclusions:

The Cuphea project's current objectives are to complete Cupheacharacterization, evaluation, and enhancement as resources will allowbefore the project's termination at the end of the current fiscal year.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths

The program's strengths have been high quality technical assistance, muchof which is provided by the program's technician. Additional strengthshave included other NCRPIS staff and their contributions to field work,database processing, and computing. The NCRPIS's field and laboratoryfacilities are excellent, and provide an environment where work has beenaccomplished efficiently and without outside interference. The cooperativework with Dr. Steven Knapp at OSU has provided a source of information andenhanced germplasm that has contributed greatly to the program's success.

Weaknesses

This program is scheduled to expire midway through fiscal year 1995. Butmuch additional research and development is needed before Cuphea can becommercialized. A major goal at the start of the project in 1986 was tocommercialize Cuphea for the midwest; this goal has not yet been attained.The recent break-throughs of developing shatter-resistant cultivars withvigorous seedlings provide the potential of removing major constraints tocommercialization. Unfortunately, NCRPIS's Cuphea domestication projectwill end before this plant is ever cultivated commercially in the U.S.Midwest.

Plans:

Seed regeneration and characterization of the known self-pollinated speciesfrom the Brazilian and Mexican collections will continue in 1994 whenapproximately 100 additional accessions will be grown. A detailed

10

germplasm management plan for Cuphea will be developed to guide futureefforts for managing this important collection.

We will continue research with the C. viscosissima X C. lanceolata hybridsduring the 1994 growing season with-the goal of releasing germplasm linesadapted to the Midwest in the fall of 1994. F, and F, derived-linesselected for seedling emergence at Ames in 1992 and Crawfordsville in 1993will be grown in replicated trials at these two locations in 1994. Also,derived shatter-resistant lines grown at Crawfordsville will be grown atboth Ames and Crawfordsville during 1994. The best of these lines willevaluated for seedling emergence, shatter resistance, seed yield, and oilcontent and then released as germplasm. Additional F-. to F, lines will beevaluated for seedling emergence and shatter resistance at Ames and atCrawfordsville if possible. This material will be made available to theongoing Oregon State University Cuphea domestication project.

The fifteen to twenty coriander lines with the highest yield of seed oilwill be grown in replicated trials at two locations in 1994. The best ofthese advanced lines will be released as germplasm sources of petroselinicacid.

B. Entomology (R. Wilson)

Progress:

Field

Corn - Corn earworm evaluation: Two hundred and eight PI maize accessionswith some red kernels were evaluated in Ames for host-plant resistance tosilk feeding resistance. Fresh silks were collected, dried, milled, andincorporated into a laboratory diet. Data are not completely analyzed atthis time. One hundred forty-eight partially red kernel accessions wereevaluated in Tifton, GA for silk feeding resistance. Three rated equal tothe resistant check. Fifteen pure red kernel maize accessions wereevaluated in Ames and Tifton for silk feeding resistance. Four accessionswere equal to the resistant check at both locations. Eight maize accessionswere evaluated at Ames and Tifton for silk feeding resistance. One wasequal to the resistant check for host-plant resistance at both locations.

European corn borer evaluation: Five hundred PI maize accessions wereevaluated in the field for host-plant resistance to first generation leaf-feeding. Thirty-nine rated resistant. One hundred and fifty maizeaccessions were evaluated for resistance to second generation European cornborer. Data from these tests are not yet analyzed.

In Cooperation with Linda Pollak (USDA-ARS, Ames), 195 LAMP maizeaccessions were evaluated for host-plant resistance to first generationEuropean corn borer. Thirty-five rated as resistant, Twenty LAMP lines wererated for host-plant resistance to second generation borer. Data from thesetests are not yet analyzed.

Graduate student Craig Abel finished his evaluation of maize PI accessionsfrom Peru for host-plant resistance to European corn borer. Craig prepared

11

the data for presentation at the ESA North Central Branch meeting and haswritten a manuscript for publication. His M.S. thesis on this research wascompleted and he received his M.S. in December.

Sunflower - Research continued on refining the sunflower moth evaluationtechnique for both cultivated and wild-type sunflowers. Ninety-one PIcultivated sunflower accessions and IO wild-type accessions were plantedfor evaluation. These data are not analyzed at this time.

Amaranth - Fifty amaranth accessions were planted but only 24 wereevaluated for resistance to the tarnished plant bug. None were moreresistant than the susceptible check cultivar "Plainsman". Excessivelyrainy weather caused problems with this test.

"Plainsman" amaranth was planted in 8 field cages. Honey bees were placedin four of the cages for pollination. The other four cages relied on self-pollination. Data from this experiment are not analyzed at this time.

Brassica - A field cage test was conducted to compare the pollinationefficiency of honey bees, alfalfa leafcutting bees, and a solitary bee(Osmia cornifrons). Two problems prevented this test from being fullysuccessful. One was the cool, rainy summer that seemed to slow the insects'pollination activity and the second was that the Osmia cornifrons emergedand died before the Brassica was ready to pollinate. However, PI 392025produced significantly more seed when pollinated by the alfalfa leafcuttingbees than it did when pollinated with honey bees, or with no pollinatinginsects.

Laboratory

Diets - Efforts to make corn earworm rearing more efficient continue.Investigations include: storing diet for va,rious lengths of time in therefrigerator or freezer before using; revitalizing the colony with wildcorn earworms collected from the field in the fall; and not sexing pupaebefore placing in the oviposition chamber.

Rearing - A colony of sunflower moths is being maintained so that we'llhave sufficient numbers of insects for use in our field evaluation program.

A colony of corn earworms is being maintained so that we'll have sufficientnumbers of insects for use in our laboratory evaluation program.

A colony of green peach aphids is being maintained in the greenhouse sothat we'll have sufficient numbers of insects for use in our greenhouseevaluation of Brassica.

We purchased 3500 Osmia cornifrons to use for cage pollination of variouscrops. The bees are shipped in straws and have been divided into lots andstored at different temperatures and humidities for use during 1994.

Greenhouse

Two hundred ninety PI Brassica accessions were evaluated in the greenhouse

12

,

for host-plant resistance to green peach aphid. Ten plants were planted perrow in greenhouse flats. The plants were infested with green peach aphidsand rated for damage one month after infestation. None of the accessionswas rated resistant. One plant from PI 469898 was selected because it wasnot killed by the aphids. It has been transplanted into a pot and hopefullywill produce seed for future testing.

13

Miscellaneous

Graduate Students - I served as major advisor for an M.S. candidate inEntomology (Craig Abel). He received his degree in December 1993. Craigplans to continue graduate education and pursue a Ph.D in Entomology.

I serve on graduate committees for one M.S. and one Ph.D. candidate inentomology.

Manuscript review:

During 1993, I peer-reviewed several manuscripts from the Journal of-Economic Entomology, crop Protection, and the Journal of the KansasL__w-Entomological Society.

Cooperative research:

I cooperated with Linda Pollak (ARS, Ames, IA) on evaluating maize for bothfirst and second generation resistance to European corn borer,

Bill Wiseman (ARS, Tifton, GA), Maurice Snook (ARS, Athens, GA) and Icooperated on evaluating maize for corn earworm resistance.

I cooperated with Rick Luhman (ISU, Plant Intro. Station, Ames, IA) on aBrassica pollination study.

I am cooperating with Brad Binder (ARS, Ames, IA) on chemical analysis ofcorn silks in order to elucidate mechanisms of host-plant resistance tocorn earworm.

I cooperated with Frank Davis (ARS, Mississippi State, MS), Bill Wiseman(A-, Tifton, GA), and Dean Barry (ARS, Columbia, MO) in evaluating 11European corn borer resistant lines found by Craig Abel in his research fora MS degree in Entomology.

I cooperated with Jean Dyer (ARS, Ames, IA) in the exchange of insectsbeing reared. She provided us with European corn borers for our germplasmevaluation and we provided her corn earworms for use by an Egyptian visitorand by Randy Pingel (a graduate student in Entomology).

One of John Obryki's students collected lygus bugs from our amaranth plots.

EEO activities:

I organized and attended a program for the NCRPIS on "Employee AssistanceProgram at ISU", Mar. 2, 1993.

Attended an "Employee Relations Workshop" at NADC, Ames, May 4, 1993.

Viewed video "Practice Safe Science" at the NCRPIS, Ames, May 10, 1993.

Attended "Team Building" seminar at NADC on Aug. 26, 1993.

14

Attended "Ethics Training" at NADC on Sept. 22, 1993.

Attended "Cultural Awareness" seminar at Soil Tilth Lab on Dec. 3, 1993.

Entomology and Agronomy Department activities:

I regularly attend faculty meetings held in both departments.

At present, I serve on Agronomy Department Building Committee, GreenhouseCommittee, and Awards Committee.

Meetings attended:

Southern Corn Improvement Conference, Atlanta, GA, Feb. 16-17, 1993.

Annual meeting of the Amaranth Institute, Ames, IA, Aug. 20, 1993. I servedwith Dave Brenner as local arrangements committee.

Annual meeting of the ESA North Central Branch, Fargo, ND, March 21-24,1993. Sharon Mcclurg also attended this meeting.

Annual NC-7 Regional Technical Advisory Committee meeting, Ft. Collins, CC,June 28-30, 1993.

NCRPIS Program Review, Ames, IA, April 19-21, 1993.

Attended Northrup King open house, Ames, IA, Aug. 3, 1993.

Short courses/training:

Attended "Tractor Safety" meeting, ISU, Ames, IA, Mar. 18, 1993,

Attended "Dust Mask Training" at NCRPIS, Ames, IA, Mar. 25, 1993.

Attended "Worker Right To Know Law" meeting at ISU, Ames, IA, April 1,1993.

Attended session on "General Scientist Orientation" at Soil Tilth Lab,Ames, May 4, 1993.

Papers presented at meetings:

Coauthored paper given by Craig Abel "Evaluation of Plant IntroductionPeruvian Maize for Resistance to European Corn Borer Feeding" at the ESANorth Central Branch meeting, Fargo, ND, March 21-24, 1993.

"Status of Entomology Research at the North Central Regional PlantIntroduction Station" at the NCRPIS Program Review, Ames, IA, April 19,1993.

"Entomology Research at the North Central Regional Plant IntroductionStation" at the NC-7 Regional Technical Advisory Committee meeting, Ft.Collins, CO, June 28-30, 1993.

Other:

I serve as the primary resource person for entomological problems onamaranth in the U.S. Growers and researchers contact me and requestinformation regarding insect pests of amaranth.

Current president of the Iowa Chapter of OPEDA.

16

Attended Popcorn Field Day at McHone Seeds, Ames, IA, Sept. 9, 1993.

Elected to Board of Directors of the Amaranth Institute for a three-yearterm.

17

Plans:

Field

Evaluate 250 maize PI accessions for host-plant resistance to corn earwormsilk feeding.

Evaluate 1000 maize PI accessions for resistance to leaf feeding byEuropean corn borer.

Evaluate 200 maize PI accessions for resistance to second generationEuropean corn borer.

Evaluate 50 amaranth PI accessions for resistance to tarnished plant bug.

Cooperate with Rick Luhman to compare honey bees, alfalfa leafcutting bees,and Osmia cornifrons for pollination efficiency of Brassica in cages.

Participate in cooperative research project to field test corn earwormresistant maize in Georgia (Bill Wiseman) and to analyze corn silks forchemicals causing resistance (Maurice Snook).

Evaluate 100 sunflower (cultivated type) and 10 (wild type) PI accessionsfor resistance to sunflower moth.

Cooperate with Kathy Reitsma on using Csmia bees to pollinate Cucumis incages.

Evaluate 11 Peruvian maize accessions with European corn borer resistanceand for resistance to sugarcane borer in cooperation with Bill White (ARS,Lahouma, LA).

Cooperate with Linda Pollak by evaluating 200 LAMP accessions for firstgeneration and 20 accessions for second generation European corn borerresistance.

Laboratory

Prepare corn earworm evaluation diets from field-collected silks.

If time permits, we plan to work on an artificial diet for squash vineborer. We tried this a few years ago without any success.

Continue rearing sunflower moth.

Continue rearing corn earworm.

Continue rearing a colony of green peach aphids in the greenhouse and in agrowth chamber.

Since sunflower moth larvae feed on pollen, we plan to incorporate chemicalextracts of sunflower pollen into sunflower moth diets to see if resistantpollen could serve as a first line of defense against this insect.

18

Cooperate with Brad Binder (ARS, Ames) to identify chemicals causingresistance to European corn borer and corn earworm.

Greenhouse

Evaluate Brassica for resistance to green peach aphid.

19

I .

Miscellaneous:

Continue active participation in the Departments of Agronomy andEntomology.

Continue to attend professional meetings and present research results.

Continue to advise graduate students.

Continue to develop cooperative research projects.

Publications:

Abel, C.A. and R.L. Wilson. 1993. Evaluation of plant introduction Peruvianmaize for resistance to European corn borer feeding. Abst. 48th N. Cent.Branch Meeting, Entomol. Sot. Am., 34, #158.

Wilson, R.L. and D.L. Olson. 1993. Tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris(Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae): Effect on yield of grainamaranth, Amaranthus cruentus L., in field cages. J. Kan. Entomol. Sot. 65,450-452.

Wilson, R.L., L.M. Pollak, and K.E. Ziegler. 1993. Evaluation of the U.S.National Germplasm System popcorn collection for resistance to corn earworm(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and European corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 86, 952-956.

Wilson, R.L. 1993. Entomology research at the North Central Regional PlantIntroduction Station, Ames, IA. Abs. NPGS Res. Workshop, 24.

Abel, C.A. and R.L. Wilson. 1993. Evaluation of plant introduction Peruvianmaize for resistance to European corn borer feeding. Abs. NPGS Res.Workshop, 24. held at Ft. Collins, CO; June 29-30, 1993.

C. Horticulture (M.P. Widrlechner)

Germplasm Collections

Acquisition:

According to GRIN reports, I received 245 new accessions of ornamentals and6 accessions of mint-family plants during 1993. Many of these accessionscame from exchanges initiated through Indices Seminum and transfers fromother NPGS sites (Geneva and National Arboretum). The most extensiveexchange resulted from George White's efforts to obtain wild-collectedornamental accessions from the genebank in Gatersleben, Germany, resultingin 65 accessions. I participated in an exploration to Mexico in Septemberand October, 1993, resulting in the acquisition of 23 accessions of Zinniaand 11 of Sanvitalia.

Maintenance:

Available for distribution:

20

,

Ornamentals (NC-7 priority site) 461/l 523 (30%) (123 genera)Ornamentals (For trials or transfers) 58/222 (26%) (74 genera)Mint-family Plants (Bee Pasture) 16/117 (14%) (11 genera)

Distribution:

I distributed 95 plants, 190 cuttings, and 72 seed packets of ornamentalsto meet germplasm requests, and 641 plants as part of the NC-7 Trials.Ornamental germplasm requests were lower than the record levels of 1991-92.I attribute this to the fact that no seed or plant lists were prepared fordistribution in 1993, these being delayed until passport data on GRIN couldbe made as complete as possible. There were 26 seed packets of bee pastureaccessions distributed in 1993.

Duplicated at NSSL

Ornamentals (NC-7 Priority Site) 110/1523 (7%)*Mint-family Plants (Bee Pasture) 3/117 (3%)

* This does not include 23 accessions prepared for back-up at NSSL. Thesewill be shipped as soon as PI numbers can be obtained.

Regenerated

Ornamentals (NC-7 Priority Site) 9611523 (6%)*Ornamentals (For trials or transfers) 11/222 (5%)Mint-family Plants (Bee Pasture) O/117 (0%)

* This includes 54 successful cage increases, 15 woody ornamental seedincreases, and 27 woody plant grow-outs.

Tested for Germinability/Viability

Ornamentals (all accessions held as seed) 197/1489 (1Mint-family Plants (Bee Pasture) 19/117 (16%)

3%)"

* These data are cumulat ive. Thirty-five accessions were tested in 1993.

Significant Progress

We had a surprisingly successful year for caged seed increase fromherbaceous ornamentals, especially for Calendula, considering the unusuallywet growing season. We made additional progress with germination testingof herbaceous ornamentals and over 50 additional seedlots are scheduled forgermination in early 1994. Updated seed lists will be completed anddistributed to cooperators and to institutions providing Indices Seminumearly in 1994, after all passport data have been proofed on GRIN. Duringthe second half of 1993, we made a concerted effort to make all passportdata for ornamentals on GRIN as complete and accurate as possible. Aninitial round of proofing was completed in December and errors noted arenow being corrected. The transfer of plants and seeds of Malus and Prunusto Geneva and Davis, respectively, was completed in 1993.

21

.

Characterization/taxonomy:

During 1993, there were no large-scale characterization/taxonomy projectson the crops that I curate, However, all herbaceous ornamentals in thecage-increase field were checked to verify identifications, including 29accessions of Calendula. In all, 12 accessions (mostly Calendula) werereidentified. Also in 1993, a standard NCRPIS-wide tracking form todocument reidentifications was developed and is now being used for allcrops at the Station.

Evaluation:

Roger Fuentes-Granados, a post-graduate student under my direction,defended his thesis and received his M.S. degree in December. His thesisresearch examined patterns of genetic diversity in Agastache foeniculum andthe response of Agastache and other Lamiaceae to Verticillium. Starch gelelectrophoresis was used to identify 19 putative enzyme-coding loci, 7 ofwhich were polymorphic in A. foeniculum. Patterns of genetic diversitysuggest that 5. foeniculum is primarily allogamous and that significantwithin-population variability is present in many populations. A strain ofVerticillium isolated from 5. rugosa was evaluated for host range. It wasfound to infest 4 genera of Lamiaceae and was pathogenic to Salvia andPycnanthemum.

Lester Wilson (ISU Food Science), Roger and I prepared a grant proposal tothe Herb Society of American entitled, "Identifying Genetic Markers andTheir Role in Selecting Chemotypes in Perennial Lamiaceae,” that was fundedfor $2500 in late 1993. These funds will be used to support furtherevaluation of essential oils and their genetic control in Agastache.

A population of Salvia azurea selected for adaptation to early flowering- -and seed production under local conditions is now being evaluated againsttwo other populations at four midwestern test sites.

Enhancement:

Late in 1993, Roger Fuentes-Granados and I developed a successful protocolfor making controlled crosses in Agastache. Parents have been chosen toproduce populations to elucidate the genetic control of isozyme bandingpatterns. These techniques can also be used to enhance Agastachepopulations for horticultural characteristics, nectar production, andessential oil composition. These topics will be included in Roger's Ph.D.research. The project to select Salvia azurea populations for adaptation- -to heavier soils and a shorter growing season is now awaiting the resultsfrom trials at four sites (see above).

Coordination of the NC-7 Regional Ornamental Trials:

Plant Distribution - 576 plants of 9 accessions were sent on request toregional cooperators for planting at 30 sites (an additional 65 plants ofthese accessions were sent to arboreta).

The NC-7 Ornamentals Subcommittee met in Nashville, Tennessee in July,

2 2

. ..“.

1993. The choice of plants for future testing, computerization of datacollection, and dissemination of trial results through free-standingsoftware such as ObjectVision, were the main topics of discussion.

Computer-generated "Report of Planting," "Plot Information," "First-yearPerformance Report," and "Five-year Performance Report" forms weredistributed to trial site cooperators this spring. Old-format "Ten-yearPerformance Report“ forms have now been completely supplanted by thecomputer-generated forms. In 1993, the backlog of returned forms wascompiled and entered into GRIN. User-friendly, free-standing datacollection and summarization programs are now under development through theuse of ObjectVision.

Four newsletter updates and three special letters were sent to trial sitecooperators in 1993, to keep them informed about current developments atAmes and throughout the program.

I gave three presentations which examined the roles environmental factorscan play to focus the search for new landscape plants for Iowa and theNorth Central U.S. I have continued the research presented in 1992 to theIPPS (publication date early 1994) by obtaining additional information onthe floristics, soils, plant communities, and climates of Eastern Europe(especially of Romania and Ukraine).

In October, Jeanne Edwards was promoted to Biological Science Techncian(part-time) GS-4.

Naomi Harrold delivered plants to trial sites in Nebraska, Kansas, andColorado. I also visited the trial site in Morris, Minnesota to confirmrecords and to examine the Salvia azurea evaluation. I visited the trial- -site in Cincinnati, Ohio to confer with a new cooperator.

Germplasm activities in crops other than those I curate:

Ten requests for accessions with special horticultural characteristics werehandled, resulting in the distribution of 955 packets of seed.

A 1992 test planting of Anethum was analyzed for essential oil compositionand concentration at Purdue University. I co-authored a manuscript,recently submitted to the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, thatpresents results for dill seed andleaf oils.

- -

In late 1993, I began a project to re-analyze the holdings of prairie plantgermplasm in the NPGS and to analyze usage patterns for a presentation atthe 14th North American Prairie Conference (July, 1994).

I analyzed seed deterioration in Helianthus annuus by reviewing germinationdata on GRIN where samples produced in the 1950s had been repeatedlygerminated over time at NCRPIS. These analyses were performed followingstandard seed deterioration models of Ellis and Roberts and the resultssuggest that samples should remain in good condition for 20-30 years.These results will be prepared for publication in consultation with MaryBrothers and David Kovach in 1994,

23

I helped Bill Roath prepare two manuscripts reporting 1) the release of anew ornamental hybrid Cuphea 'Starfire' (to be submitted to HortScience)and 2) patterns of agronomic variability in collections of Cupheaviscosissima from the eastern U.S (submitted to Industrial Crops s(Products).

Other research and training activities:

A study of the literature of germplasm preservation, i.e. research on seed,pollen and tissue culture storage and longevity, using citation analysis,was published in the FAO/I~BPGR Plant Genet,ic Resources Newsletter in 1992.A similar citation analysis of the literature of germplasm multiplicationhas been completed and a manuscript was under preparation in 1993, butlittle progress was made in interpreting the results. I plan to finishthis project in 1994.

I assisted Peter Bretting in preparing a manuscript and a presentation onthe uses of genetic markers in plant genetic resource management. Themanuscript has been submitted to Plant Breeding Reviews and thepresentation was given to a workshop at the ASHS annual meeting in July.

Research continued on the taxonomy of Rubus in Iowa. I have identifiedblackberries from Iowa collections, representing five sections of thesubgenus Eubatus, and am collecting morphological data to prepare keys forfield identifications and to develop hypotheses that can be tested viacytogenetic and molecular approaches. Data collection is essentiallycomplete for four sections of the subgenus. Only section Allegheniensesremains to be studied in detail. This work will be done during 1994.Field work should also be more or less completed with the 1994 fieldseason.

24

Meetings attended:

March - Shade Tree Short Course (Ames, IA)

May - American Rhododendron Society (Tacoma,WA)

June - Woody Landscape Plant CAC (Glenn Dale, MD)

June - NPGS Research Workshop, the NC-7 and Joint Regional TechnicalCommittees, PGOC, and Herbaceous Ornamental CAC (Ft. Collins, CO)

July - ASHS annual meeting, including NC-7 Ornamental Subcommittee, LeafyVegetable CAC, Root & Bulb Vegetable CAC, and Cucurbit CAC (Nashville, TN)

August - International Society of Arboriculture annual meeting (Bismarck,ND)

November - ASAjCSSA annual meeting, including Forage & Turf Grass CAC(Cincinnati, OH)

Presentations and seminars:

Searching for Iowa‘s new shade trees: invited presentation to Iowa ShadeTree Short Course.

The search for landscape plants from Eastern Europe: presentation to NPGSResearch Workshop.

Tough trees for tough environments - An Eastern European case study:invited presentation to ISA.

Publications which appeared in print in 1993:

Bretting, Peter K., and Mark P. Widrlechner. 1993. Genetic markers andplant genetic resource management. HortScience 28: 472 (abstract).

Roath, W-W., M.P. Widrlechner, and J.H. Kirkbride. 1993. Collecting Cupheain Brazil, Mexico and the United States. FAO/IBPGR Plant Genetic ResourcesNewsletter 93: 29-33.

Widrlechner, Mark P, 1993, The search for new landscape plants from EasternEurope. NPGS Research Workshop June 29-30, 1993, Fort Collins, CO. p. 23(abstract).

Other items:

During the first four months of 1993, I prepared materials which summarizedmy research and curation efforts for a joint ARS/CSRS (SAES) review ofNCRPIS. I assisted with the preparation of stationwide documentation, suchas an update of the Operations Manual and other materials for the ReviewTeam's packet. I also advised other curators on their presentations andsummarization of work.

25

In June, I served on a CSRS Review Team appointed to examine research inthe Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Delaware StateUniversity, Dover, an 1890 Land Grant Institution. I was impressed withthe high level of teaching and research activities, considering theavailable resources. I have established excellent contacts with ArthurTucker that have led to my serving as a USDA collaborator on an 1890Capacity Building Grant Proposal to create "A Centralized Research Supportand Technology Delivery System for Flavor and Fragrance Plants," at DSU.

Conclusions:

Curation

1993 was a fairly productive year for germplasm increase, but the unusuallywet weather caused many problems and delays in field work. In the spring,we established our largest cage-increase field for ornamentals (30standard cages, 6 sunflower cages for Malvaceae, and 4 sunflower cages fora test of woody-plant seed increase). Progress renovating long-term fieldplantings was uneven; many plantings were removed following large-scaletransfers, but saturated soils hindered replanting and delayed until 1994the construction of new fencing for vines. The wet weather may also causesignificant overwintering losses to herbaceous plants in the cage fieldfrom crown rots and similar pathogens.

One of the main areas of curatorial progress was the improvement ofpassport data on GRIN. The printing and distribution of ornamental seedand plant lists were delayed in 1993 until all passport data could be madeas complete and accurate as possible given the information in our files.Initial changes were completed in December and a final proofing of allrecords should be completed by February, 1994.

Research

In contrast to 1992, only one paper and two abstracts appeared in print in1993. In addition, there are two papers on Eastern Europe / Midwest U.S.comparative studies that will be published early in 1994. Much of my timedevoted to research in 1993 centered on three areas: assisting RogerFuentes-Granados with the completion of his thesis and the development of aPh.D. program; further analyses,of Eastern European floristics, climates,and soils; and preparations for and reporting on the fall expedition toMexico.

Roger's M.S. thesis should lead to two publications. One on verticilliumwilt evaluations is being prepared for the Journal of Herbs, &SpicesMedicinal Plants. The other, on genetic diversity in Agastache, will-hopefully be presented to the 14th North American Prairie Conference inJuly, 1994.

Other projects underway that should lead to research publications includean analysis of prairie plant germplasm in NPGS and its usage andcooperative work with Purdue University on Anethum, with Bill Roath onCuphea, and with Peter Bretting on genetic markers and plant geneticresource management.

26

D. Plant Pathology (C. Block)

Disease notes on seed increase plantings:

Phytosanitary matters continued to be an important responsibility. Seedshipments frequently require a declaration that the seed was produced in anarea free of specific diseases. Regular inspection programs have beeninstituted for corn (since 1990), sunflower (1991) and Cucurbita pepo(1993).

Sunflower: Sunflower increase plots were inspected twice during thegrowing season for downy mildew, Pseudomonas syringae, bacterial diseases,and virus diseases. Six downy mildew infected plants were removed from thefield prior to flowering so that the field could be certified free of downymildew. NO other diseases were found except for Alternaria leaf blight.Alternaria leaf blight defoliated 50% of the leaves on many accessions.

Maize: All corn seed increase plots (60 accessions of inbred lines) wereinspected for incidence and severity of leaf diseases. Common rust, commonsmut, northern leaf blight, carbonum leaf spot, yellow leaf blight andanthracnose were identified. Rust was a widespread and serious problem inseed production fields in 1993. Rust severity ranged from 2%-80% of theleaf area killed. Five accessions showed very good resistance with only 2-3% leaf area affected: PI 550440 (inbred B64), PI 558532 (inbred Mo17),Ames 8397 (inbred B73Ht), Ames 20070 (inbred HP301) and Ames 20132 (inbredNC268). The other diseases caused little damage on most of the accessions.The anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum graminicola, was regularly observedas a secondary invader of rust pustules. Darluca filum, a fungus that ishyperparasitic on rusts, was abundant by mid-August and may have slowed therust epiphytotic.

Stewart's bacterial wilt of corn, present in such abundance in 1992, wasabsent in 1993. No flea beetles were seen all summer. The cold winter andheavy spring and summer rains probably killed them.

Cucurbita pepo:

Squash mosaic virus is the only seed transmitted virus of cucurbitsobserved in 1993. Squash mosaic was common in the seed increase plots inboth 1991 and 1992. The likely source of the disease was infected seed.The virus is spread from the source plants by cucumber beetles and bymechanical transmission (e.g. pollinating). To ensure that only "clean"plants were transplanted, a program was established to screen greenhouseseedlings before transplanting. Of 81 accessions tested (1055 plants), 19accessions had one or more infected plants as determined by ELISA test.All infected plants were destroyed. This program will need to become astandard operating procedure for seed production.

RESEARCH NOTES:

Sunflower Accession Evaluation:

One hundred and thirty-eight accession were planted for Alternaria leaf

27

blight evaluation, 55 as re-tests and 83 new accessions, Abnormally heavyrains and flooding destroyed 90% of the plantings in one field and 50% in asecond field. Alternaria evaluations on the remaining plots were confoundedby Phomopsis leaf blight, an uncommon disease in Iowa. No useful field datawere obtained for Alternaria resistance or Phomopsis resistance during1993.

Seed Transmission Research

The potential spread of Stewart's bacterial wilt via seed continued to bethe main phytosanitary issue relating to international shipment of seedcorn.

More than 40,000 corn seedlings were bioassayed for seed transmission of E.stewartii by stem printing onto selected agar media, Seed transmissionfrom heavily infected seed lots (>25% infected seed) occurred at a rate of0.05 percent, about 1 plant per 2000 seedlings. No seed transmission wasdetected from lightly infected (<LO % infected seed) seed lots. The low rateof seed transmission is consistent with results from two previous years. AnELISA based seed health test was developed which successfully estimates thepercentage of infected seed. By combining seed transmission informationwith the ELISA seed health test, we are able to assess the risk of seedtransmission from any given seed lot.

28

MiscelTaneous:

Cryostorage facilities for maintaining pathogen cultures, seeds and pollenwere greatly improved. We purchased a 110 liter liquid nitrogen tank(Locater 4 model) with capacity for 2800 2ml vials. All of the fungal andbacterial culture collection as well as some small seed and pollen storageexperiments (ca. 800 vials) were transferred from the larger tank at thefarm to campus, Vials are currently being stored in liquid nitrogen vapor.The tank at the farm will be stored for the immediate future and possiblyrenovated with a rotating platform and storage racks to make it more usefulfor a future expansion of seed cryostorage. In addition, a -80°C uprightfreezer was purchased. The freezer houses fungal and bacterial cultures,antibodies, and plant tissue samples.

Meetings/presentations:

Invited to speak on "Stewart's bacterial wilt in corn and seed transmissionresearch" at the 15th Annual seed Technology Conference at ISU, Feb. 24-25,1993.

Presented an overview of the NCRPIS plant pathology program to the stationreview team in April, 1993.

Attended the National Plant Germplasm meetings at Ft. Collins, CO duringJune, 1993. Presented an overview of the NCRPIS plant pathology program atthe NC-7 Technical Committee meeting.

Organized and hosted a "disease identification" tour at the Field ExtensionEducation Laboratory and the NCRPIS for 16 visiting Egyptian and Pakistaniseed analysts, July; 1993.

Attended the national meeting of the American Phytopathological Society inNashville, TN, Nov. 6-10, 1993. Participated in meetings as a member ofthe 'Seed Pathology' committee and the 'Collections and Germplasm'committee.

Participated in several tours of the NCRPIS.

Served on the Agronomy Department's Greenhouse and Growth ChamberCommittee.

Attended weekly plant pathology seminars and weekly staff meetings.

Research plans:

Sunflower Accession Evaluation: Alternaria evaluations were originallyintended to be completed in 1993. Because of the crop failure theevaluations will be extended through 1994, Evaluations will be acombination of re-testing putatively resistant PI's and previously untestedaccessions.

Corn: Research on the rate of seed transmission of Erwinia stewartii isessentially complete. Approximately 40 naturally infected seed lots of

29

different genotypes will be examined to measure seed infection percentages.

Phytosanitary inspections of seed increase plots will continue forsunflower, corn and Cucurbita pe_po. Additional field and greenhouseinspections are needed in other crops. Decision regarding which crops andwhich diseases to survey will be made in consultation with the cropcurators. Competent disease inspections are tedious, but are certainlyessential for the international exchange of seed.

A international collaborative proposal to characterize a new bacterialdisease of melons did not receive funding by the WSDA/OICD/RSED programoffice. We will continue to investigate this problem with available funds.

Planned meetings/presentations:

Attend the Sunflower Research Forum at Fargo, ND on Jan. 13-14, 1994 andattend the Crop Advisory committee meeting held in conjunction with theresearch forum.

Attend the 16th annual Seed Technology Conference at ISU, Feb. 15-16, 1994.Present a poster on "Assessing risk of seed transmission from naturallyinfected seedlots".

Attend the Regional Seed Quality Workshop at Urbana-Champaign, IL on Mar.21-22, 1994 to present research results.

Attend the APS national meeting in Albuquerque, NM August 6-10, 1994. Oralpresentation on Stewart's wilt research results.

Attend the Cucurbitaceae 1994 meeting at South Padre Island, TX in Nov.,1994.

In cooperation with the vegetable curator , present a poster detailingcucurbit collections and cucurbit research at the NCRPIS at theCucurbitaceae 1994 meeting.

E. Farm Superintendent (L, Lockhart1

General:

Supervised and coordinated daily operations at the NCRPIS. This includesmanagement of all facilities, fields, and greenhouse space. Supervised orconducted 87 pesticide applications in the field and/or greenhouses.Coordinated and scheduled the student labor force of 23 FTE's.

Labor:

During the calendar year 1993, 249 applications for hourly employment werereceived and reviewed. There were 59 interviews resulting in 43 hourlyemployees hired. Three employees were dismissed for poor work performanceand two for habitual tardiness. Currently there are 45 (16.4 FTE) part-time hourly employees working at the NCRPIS.

30

The hiring of Jerry Scheuerman as a Field Lab/Tech has been a tremendousasset to the farm operation. With the extra help on maintenance projects Ihave been able to devote significant periods of time to the ever-increasingregulatory issues facing the NCRPIS. I can only anticipate this trend willcontinue.

Maintenance projects completed:

Planned -20% cold room and seed storage remodeling project with seedstorage personnel.

Constructed mist bench in the farm greenhouse to facilitate horticulturalpropagations.

Installed security locks and alarm systems to prevent unauthorized entry toseed storage rooms.

31

Designed and constructed a cross-bar handling system to improve efficiencyof cage construction.

Tours:

This past year I organized and conducted 18 tours.

Conferences, training, etc. attended:

Numerous departmental seminars

Worker Right-to-Know Update, ISU

Chemical Waste Disposal, ISU

ASA-CSSA-SSA Annual Meeting

Respirator Training Certification EH&S

CPR and First Aid Training

Lock-out/Tagout, ISU

Worker Protection Standard Training, ISU

ASTA, Chicago

NC-7 RTAC, Ft Collins

Staff Training:

Conducted five disposable dust mask training sessions.

Conducted three Tractor Safety Training sessions.

Devised a documentation system to assure all safety training for stationpersonnel is documented according to OSHA guidelines.

Committees:

NCRPIS Extension

Purchasing:

I coordinated purchasing for the NCRPIS farm: this task included gatheringand summarizing requests, writing specs, and obtaining supplies for thefarm.

Goals and plans for 1994:

Maintenance

Serve as a liaison between contractors, ISU Agricultural Experiment

32

Station, and utility providers to ensure construction of entomologygreenhouse proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Remodel seed storage work room if resources are available.

Re-construct the former bio-tech fence to provide a trellis system forseveral species of climbing ornamentals.

Construct

Other:

Implement

Implement

compost bin for greenhouse organic material.

Lockout/Tagout Program

Worker Protection Standard Program

F. Controlled insect pollination program (C, Abel)

Progress:

Cage pollinations: Four hundred and four cages housed honey bees forcontrol pollinating 664 accessions. Abnormally cool and wet weather reducedthe number of insect-pollinated accessions this year.

Beekeeping: We purchased 350 2 lb. packages of honeybees this year. Twohundred and twenty of these were placed directly into nucleus hives (nuts)for Brassica pollinating and the remaining packages supplied nuts for oursummer pollinating season.

Four hundred and forty nuts were wintered in the indoor wintering facilityduring the winter of 1992-93. Seventy-seven (17%) nuts survived. Uncagednuts had a higher survival rate (42%) than nuts that were used inpollinating cages the previous summer (8%). It is believed that the uncagednuts, which did not go into pollinating cages during the summer, continuedrearing brood throughout the summer. Therefore, these nuts would haveyounger and larger populations of bees going into the winter. The cagednuts discontinued rearing broods once placed in the cages. This decreasedtheir ability to survive the long storage period inside the winteringfacility.

Five hundred and fifty nuts were placed into the indoor wintering facilitythis fall. The nuts were divided into four treatments. This study willdetermine the best pre-wintering preparation needed for the nuts going intothe wintering facility.

In 1992, we wintered 28 large hives in the indoor wintering facility.Twenty-three hives survived giving us a 82% success rate. This compares toa 26% success rate with wintering large hives outdoors during the 1992-93winter. On average, the surviving indoor-wintered hives had a larger numberof bees and a greater quantity of brood by May 1st than the survivingoutdoor wintered hives.

Forty large hives were placed in the indoor wintering facility this fall.

33

Two additional beeyards were established on NADC property bringing ourtotal number of off-station bee yards at 7, These off-station yards arecrucial to our nut making efforts in the spring.

It was determined that corn syrup is superior to sugar syrup forsupplemental feeding of honey bees in terms of cost and quality as a foodsource.

We assisted Kim Lewers (ISU Agronomy Dept. graduate student) during herstudy on optimal honey bee densities for pollinating soybeans.

Bombus: Thirty-three Bombu! 2 bimaculatus queens were captured between4/28/93 and S/06/93. Eighttsen established colonies in the lab. Two colonieswere used to control pollil qate Coronilla in the field. Six colonies reachedsufficient size to produce ca. 40 queens and males. Unfortunately, we wereunable to mate these queens.

34

During Fall 1993, we made significant improvements in the design of theBombus rearing domiciles. One improvement was a new feeding apparatus whichwill allow us to feed colonies weekly rather than daily.

Megachile rotundata [Alfalfa leafcutter (ALC)]: A Brassica pollinatorexperiment was carried out in 1993. There was no significant difference inseed produced between the control (no pollinators), honey bees, and ALCpollinator treatments on accession 537015. However, with accession 392025,there was significantly (P = 0.05) more seed produced in cages whichcontained ALC than the control or honey bee cages.

Future plans:

Capture 90 Bombus bimaculatus queens this spring for a rearing study. Beginthe year-round production of B. bimaculatus colonies for use in pollinatorstudies. Rear other native Bombus D. to determine their suitability aspollinators of some of our plant germplasm species.

Collect and catalog native pollinators, from species of entomophilousplants we maintain at the station, for future work in determining theefficacy of native insect pollinators as pollinating agents for germplasm.

Use ALC in 50 Brassica increase cages, Spring 1994.

Assist R. L. Wilson in comparing Apis mellifera, Megachile rotundata, Osmia

and Bombus bimaculatus as pollinators of Brassica spp., Cucumis&, and Cucumis sativus.

Assist R. L. Wilson with studying the biology of Osmia cornifrons andimprove techniques for rearing and storing this species.

Make plans to plant bee pasture to aid in feeding our honey bees duringJuly and August.

By 1996, discontinue purchasing honey bees from Texas improving our nutwintering success rate to 40% and by using other pollinators as determinedby pollinator studies of Brassica m., Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus,Helianthus w., and other entomophilous species that are maintained atNCRPIS.

Miscellaneous:

Attended the 1993 North Central Branch Entomological Society of Americameetings in Fargo, ND.

Attended a Chemical Hygiene Plan Training session.

Attended Employee Assistance Program session.

Wrote "Management of Insect Pollinators" section of the NCRPIS OperationsManual.

Gave talk on NCRPIS control pollinating efforts to the NCRPIS Review

35

:

Committee.

Attended four Word Perfect 5.1 sessions at: the ISU Durham Center.

Attended American Seed Trade Association Meetings at Chicago, IL.

State of the operation:

The insect management operation is currently undergoing an importanttransition. We are moving from traditional methods (i.e. the yearlypurchase and use of honey bees) to more efficient methods designedspecifically for each plant species increased at the station. The use ofoptimal pollinating agents may not only yield more cost efficient methods,but will also maintain our plant collections better. As with anytransition, there will be some risks involved in using new methods. It willbe important to monitor these new methods carefully while they are beingimplemented. Standard methods should be maintained as backups until the newmethods have proven themselves effective and reliable over a number ofyears.

0. Zea Curator (Mark Millard)

Activities

Curatorial Information

A NCRPIS review was completed in 1993.curatorial program. The NCRPIS reviewcollection's management plan as animportant step for setting prioritiesin the acquisition area.

Acquisition:

New accessions received

During 1993, 205 Zea accessions wereacquired. Of these,148 wereaccessions received through quarantineincrease on St. Croix. Thisrepresents a considerable reduction inaccessions received from previousyears, and reflects the fact thattropical maize accessions, regeneratedwith USDA and USAID help, are nowgoing to NSSL initially. Later,important representatives of thesecollections will also be divided byNSSL and placed at the NCRPIS.

The team complimented the maizeteam recognized the maize

NSSL received during 1993 1256 new accessions. As noted previously, many ofthese are destined ultimately for the NCRPIS, The maize curator at theNCRPIS had a significant role in reviewing passport data for theseaccessions and assigning accession numbers.

Samples of seed of the last 11 of 44 Plant Variety Protection (PVP)reference inbred lines were received in 1993. An attempt was made inregenerating 29 of the 44 lines not yet cleared for distribution.

Significant progress

37

Local accession numbers at the NSSL and the NCRPIS, or permanent PInumbers, were assigned to all pending Zea accessions before the end ofcalendar year 1993. Special efforts were made in this area to make sureaccessions held in the NPGS were documented in response to newinternational protocols instituted at the end of 1993.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--Sixty-eight percent (8684) of the 12,805accessions held in December 1993 were available for distribution. Thelargest portion of unavailable accessions continues to be the 1600accessions in the Galinat-Mangelsdorf collection. Low seed quantities andpoor viability continue to inhibit progress with this collection.

#/% distributed--We distributed 3011 packets of Zea seed in 1993. Thisrepresents 15% (1945) of all Zea accessions.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--NSSL has seed of 66% (8483) of the Zea accessionsheld at NCRPIS. 1258 accessions were sent in 1993,

#/% accessions regenerated-- In 1993, 238 accessions were regenerated, fewerthan 2% of the total Zea collection. This figure includes 50 tropicalaccessions regenerated in Hawaii by Northrup-King, and 118 accessionsregenerated in Puerto Rico. 148 accessions were received from thequarantine nurseries on St. Croix in 1993,

#/% tested for viability--We tested 20% (2521) of the Zea accessions forviability in 1993. This percentage keeps us on schedulefor germinationretests every 5 years.

The #/% of collec,tion with permanent PI accession numbers is 77% (9863) ofthe total Zea accessions.numbers in393.

813 (6.7%) of all accessions were given PI

Significant progress--With automation, germinations of accessions haveincreased to levels needed for accurate monitoring of collection status.

The #/% of the maize collection backed-up at the NSSL increasedsubstantially this year. r-

15 of the 44 PVP reference lines were cleared for distribution. 35 ordersof 280 packets were filled from this material in 1993.

Limagrain Genetics in Iowa for the first time assisted in regenerating 10accessions.

We received an excellent increase of 50 accessions by Northrup King attheir Kauai location. This increase was the best regeneration overall in1993.

Cooperation provided by the staff at the Isabela, Puerto Rico ResearchStation of the Tropical Research Station, Mayaquez, Puerto Rico reached alltime highs in a difficult year. All the staff involved were most helpful.

,

Special thanks are given to Mr. Adolf0 Quiles, Agronomist, who providedday-to-day supervision of the nursery.

The first shipment of balanced (perfect) samples to NSSL for futureregenerations was made in 1993. The protocol for the procedure was finallystandardized after several years of development. Special thanks to the newseed storage technician, David Kovach, in making this procedure moreefficient. He designed and built several devices to help unskilledtemporary labor separate balanced samples making the process more preciseand efficient.

This was the first year in which all field data was obtained by fieldelectronic data entry.

39

This was the first year in which all harvest labels were bar coded forfaster more precise data entry.

1993 was the first year in which germination data was captured directly tocomputer. Subsequently also in 1993, the procedure has been expanded to acomputer network where multiple individuals can enter data simultaneously.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--This status has changed little from 1992,however we have entered all fieldbook data after 1980 into PC computerfiles. Final checking needs to be done and then this data can be enteredinto GRIN. It is estimated that 40% of current NCRPIS accessions have allavailable passport data entered into GRIN. Twenty-five percent of Zeaaccessions bear some racial classification, generally provided bycollectors or the banks in Colombia, Mexico, or Peru. These racialdesignations may need verification. Most accessions grown by the NCRPIShave accession characterization data recorded during increase. Perhapsonly 30% of these data have been extracted from fieldbooks and entered intoGRIN.

Significant progress--We achieved complete data conversion of oldobservation data in GRIN obtained during previous regenerations to newdatabase format. Emphasis was placed on compatibility with CIMMYT and LAMPdatabases and the international descriptor set.

This was the first year in which observation data from the regenerationnursery has been entered into GRIN within days of its acquisition.

Due to weather and resource shortages the morphological evaluations of U.S.material was placed on hold in 1993.

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated--494 accessions were evaluated for resistance to firstgeneration European corn borer feeding by the NCRPIS entomology group. 60%(7727) of the accessions have been evaluated for host-plant resistance.Additional preliminary screening for corn earworm resistance expressed asreduced silk feeding was performed by the entomology group. Taking up thereview team's suggestion, screening on second-third generation corn borerresistance was begun.

During the last four years, the Acting Plant Pathologist has screened ourincrease plots for diseases which are important for seed export into somecountries. To date, no sorghum downy mildew has been observed. Common cornsmut, common rust, and leaf blights always occur and we cannot certify thatour increases are free of these diseases. Stewart's wilt was highlyabundant this year. The Pathologist is researching the importance of thisdisease to distribution of maize kernels. ELISA tests were begun on seedproduced before field observations were made, or on seed producedelsewhere, to satisfy international restrictions on seed where theStewart's wilt status is unknown.

40

Significant progress--The first generation European corn borer observationrepresents the highest percentage of the collection evaluated for anytrait. The evaluation program was reviewed by the curator, ResearchLeader, and station researchers while developing the Zea management plan.It was decided that evaluations at the NCRPIS would stress materialsalready on hand and that outside cooperators would be encouraged toevaluate in Zea with non-NCRPIS financial support. Quantities of seed weresent to Georgia and Missouri for such cooperative evaluation efforts in1993.

Dr. David Smith of the Maize Crop Advisory Committee presented a report onthe wants and needs of the maize collection user community in plantpathology disease resistance screening. He indicated that there was muchinterest in doing such screening of the collection, but not many resources.He plans with NCRPfS personnel to follow up and prepare a proposal whichcould be submitted to the committee in 1994.

Enhancement and/or utilization:

#c/% enhanced--No enhancement program has been undertaken with Zea at theNCRPIS.

Significant progress--The seed industry, with the Maize CAC's concurrence,has begun a major effort in obtaining funding at the national level for anenhancement program in maize. The efforts have begun with much in-kindsupport from industry, allowing the initial enhancement of the LAMP top 5%accessions in 1993.

Support/administrative personnel:

Significant accomplishments--The Zea technician made significant progressin the computer automation arena.He attended two workshops and has begunusing the computer for data entry almost exclusively.

The secretarial staff at the NCRPIS is praised for arranging the maizecuratorial project's travel during the last few years. Winter nurserytravel is often unpredictable and time consuming in arranging.

Heavy demands were placed on order processing personnel while the curatorwas traveling.. Thanks to them for "filling in" during this difficult time.

Travel and Meetings attended:

The maize curator and a temporary ISU student-employee travelled toIsabella, Puerto Rico to assist in pollination of the 1993 tropicalnursery. The trip provided an excellent experience for one of the maizeproject's most valued employees, John Westphal.

The GRIN site meeting was held in conjunction with the PGOC meeting,regional technical advisory committee meetings, and NPGS research meetingin late June, 1993. GRIN3 is expected to go on line in mid-1994.

I attended the 1993 Maize CAC meeting at the American Seed Trade

41

Association meetings, December 7-10.

Presentations or seminars:

Numerous visitors and groups toured NCRPIS and learned procedures for maizecuration. Among them were the NCRPLS review team.

A brief presentation concerning the maize curatorial effort was made bothbefore the NCRPIS review team meeting and the Regional Technical advisorycommittee meeting.

Miscellaneous:

The Specific Cooperative Agreement with Iowa State University's SeedScience Laboratory to create a computerized visual database for corn earscontinued and has been extended one year into 1995. Dr. Misra and Dr. Shyycontinue this work, with the Research Leader/Coordinator and myself

42

representing the NCRPIS in the cooperative agreement. Drs. Misra and Shyyattended the research meeting at Fort Collins of NPGS staff to presenttheir developments and to exchange ideas with others in this area.

Conclusions:

State of the program

In summary, we are keeping up with maize accession maintenance tasks, butjust so. Additional tropical and rescue regenerations are necessary. Anincreased effort to computerize old data and obtain better characterizationdata is required.

Strengths and weaknesses: what facilitated or hindered progress

The most difficult challenge in 1993 was the poor weather for increase inAmes. The planting was reduced in size and yet what was grown, mainly PVPreference accessions, will need to be regrown.

The maize collection requires a full time curator, and additional full-timepermanent positions would be desirable. At present, many jobs are not doneefficiently due to rapid turnover of temporary personnel. Travel to othernurseries must be rotated among personnel, Spring planting and fallharvests are delayed because of personnel shortages. Tasks of a moretechnical nature are not accomplished. Towards this end, the researchleader has allowed and strongly encouraged the maize curator to divorcehimself from non-maize responsibilities. This has proven difficult toaccomplish, as staff shortages and turnover has encouraged overlap ofduties to "get the job done". It is expected that, in the coming years,the benefits of having a "full time" maize curator will become apparent.

Northrup King indicated that they did not have the resources for anotherfifty accession increase at Kauai, Hawaii in 1994. As mentioned beforethis was the best nursery in 1993. It is hoped that we can restore thisrelationship as conditions in the seed industry improve. Pioneer Hi-BredInternational has offered to regenerate 50 tropical maize accessions for usduring 1994.

Future plans:

Acquisition plans

It was re-affirmed by the CAC that all Caribbean accessions held by CIMMYTshould also be available at the NCRPIS. We will try to obtain thismaterial in 1994, as budget allows. This process began in 1993 with thereceipt of a list from CIMMYT of accessions for which they hold excessamounts of seed.

Maize from Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Brazil is not well-represented in the NCRPIS collections. I will try to obtain at least theracial type collections from these countries. Almost all of the LAMP top5% accessions have been acquired by the NCRPIS and plans are to includemuch of the top 20%.

43

Maintenance:

We will attempt to regenerate about 50 accessions of the Galinat-Mangelsdorf collection. We will refine the passport data for theseaccessions.

The number of Zea accessions to be regenerated in 1994 will be similar tothat in 1993. Hand pollinations of corn is one of the most demanding tasksfor student hourly labor. The labor allocated to the maize project wasagain reduced for the summer of 1994. One hundred to 150 accessionincreases are planned.

Fifty accessions will be sent to Puerto Rico for winter increase. In late1994 another 100 accessions will be sent to Puerto Rico for increase tomove up the increase time-table.

Characterization and evaluation work

Approximately 750 accessions will be initially screened for firstgeneration corn borer resistance/tolerance by the entomology program.

Approximately 200 accessions will be screened for corn earworm resistanceby the entomology program.

Approximately 200 accessions will be screened for second-third generationcorn borer resistance/tolerance by the entomology program.

The LAMP evaluation data will be entered into GRIN. These will includecharacterization-evaluation data for more than 25,000 accessions in theaccessions' area of adaptation. These data may total more than half amillion observations.

I will continue entering fieldbook data into GRIN.

Experimental work requiring the maize program's resources

The cooperative research with lowa State and their imaging team will needclose attention as equipment and software purchases are completed, Thisyear, a database model will be developed. Testing of the database and itsefficiency will begin.

Travel

The Puerto Rico winter nursery will again require 2-3 weeks of my time inthe spring of 1995. One other staff will also be needed.

I will attend the American Seed Trade Association and the Maize CropAdvisory Committee meetings in December.

I will probably only attend one meeting in 1994 related to the new GRIN3software as my duties in this area diminish.

H. Beta-Spinacia (P. Lundeen)

44

* i

Beta:

Evaluation of alternate regeneration sites continues. Germination data andseed have not yet arrived from Pullman, but the reports from the first yearplots for regeneration are good. Seed for a second year of evaluation havebeen sent to Pullman. These will be grown at two locations (Pullman andCentral Ferry). Accessions were also sent to Ft. Collins for evaluation ofregeneration conditions,

Five new accessions were received in 1993, 129 accessions from NSSL and 71increase lots from Utah. The 129 accessions from NSSL included 97accessions not previously recieved at NC-7, and 32 additional increases.

Four hundred and seventy eight samples were sent to NSSL as back-up. Muchof this material was original seed or samples with low germination

4 5

percentages. Of the 1,445 accessions Ames, 63% are now backed up at NSSL.Currently there are 423 accessions available for distribution.

The next CAC meeting will coincide with the ASSBT meetings in March 1995.

Spinacia:

Eight new accessions were added to the Spinacia collection, raising thecurrent collection size to 304 accessions at NCRPIS. All but 101 areavailable for distribution, although only 12 accessions have distributionlots resulting from control-pollination.

Regenerations of 7 accessions of Spinacia were attempted under greenhouseconditions using positive pressure chambers. Seed was harvested from halfthe accessions planted, and awaits cleaning and storage.

I. Computer Coordination (P, Lundeen)

Training:

ISU training

ISU short courses in computing are available through the university. Fewof the current staff have taken advantage of these courses this year.

Monthly computer meetings

Computer meetings still serve as training sessions for basic computertopics instead of general discussion sessions. Sessions have been limitedby the computer personnel's lack of time to develop topics of interest.

Individual training

Individual training is still a major part of this position. Several of thecurators have been assisting in basic GRIN training, and farm procedures.The NCRPIS staffs' different levels of expertise, and variability incomputer hardware and software makes goal-oriented training necessary.

Data entry

Most evaluation data arrives on diskette, and most of the curators haveshifted orders, evaluation data, etc. to computerized files. Data entry ofgerminations has helped new employees understand and gain familliarity withthe accession and inventory coding systems. Additional germination entryhas been handled by the receptionists.

Documentation:

Operations manual

Login procedures documentation was revamped before Janae Colvin quit. Weplan to update the full order processing procedures in the OperationsManual to reflect recent changes, as time permits.

46

. i

Procedures & codes

Procedures and the first draft of a taxonomy re-identification form weredeveloped. A three part form was put on hold until the procedures wereevaluated for six months.

47

Coordination & supervision:

Login--We received approximately 1900 new accessions in 1993. The passportdata on all but 200 of these was entered manually. Part of the plannedseed storage remodelling includes moving the login position to seedstorage, under the supervision of Mark Widrlechner. A concerted effort wasmade to load basic passport for all accessions into GRIN by the end ofDecember, 1993.

Order processing--We received approximately 900 germplasm requests in 1993.Although part of the increase in orders was due to documentation of'information only' orders, there was also an increase in germplasmrequests.

Purchasing and upgrades:

Purchases

We purchased five new 486 PCs this year. One of these was an AST 486/66Dhinstalled as a network server at the farm. The others included a GatewayPC for the entomology crew, a Compaq PC for the secretary, and two Zenithsfor the farm.

A 20-user Novell Netware 3.11 software, a desktop scanner, a CD ROM reader,a Zebra bar code printer, and a DAT back-up system were all purchased toimprove efficiency.

Upgrades

We are continually shifting PCs, giving the most experienced people thenewest PC's and upgrading everyone down the line. This requires much time,adjusting software to different versions of DOS, different drives, etc.Hiring an hourly employee interested in PC maintenance has improvedefficiency of upgrading PCs.

The increased size of the network has altered priorities and improved datasecurity and hardware upgrade speed. Virus protection and structuraluniformity have become high priorities for the network. The network hasalso improved the efficiency of shifting PCs. Back-ups should now beconducted through the server.

The old 186 PCs have produced some additional problems when attached to thenetwork. Hopefully, these problems can be overcome and the network canincrease the use of these PCs.

PC Cleaning

Currently, cleaning only occurs when the user does so, or because ofhardware problems'. This may change as we catch up with higher prioritytasks.

Significant projects of 1993:

48

Networks

The farm network was expanded to a 20 user network with only minorproblems, due to the experience received when installing the 5 usernetwork. While the efficiency of adding new stations has increased,tripling the number of users has taken time and caused additional problems.Communications and data security procedures have become priorities.Station procedures and some software are now available on the server.There are still major improvements needed for the network, including theaddition of a print server, OS/2 connections, and communications access toGRIN through the server,

The three "networked" computers on campus are now fully functional andshare files and printers. No further additions to this network areforeseen.

Bar code equipment

now

Integrating bar coding equipment with our current inventory ID's has beencomplicated. Software recommended by other sites has not been effective inrecognizing our upper and lower case inventory codes. Creating bar codesfor inventory IDS (for germinations, and seed storage operations) has beenaccomplished, but has not yet been incorporated station wide. The newZebra printer should improve label printing, once it is operational.

PC & Software Tracking/Registration

Tracking software and hardware registrations for the 42 PCs in use atNCRPIS is challenging. Currently, PC hardware registrations and mostsoftware versions are recorded on a summary file in Excel. Thisinformation is updated as purchases arrive and the information is verifiedas time permits.

Facilities:

The current space available for computer operations is cramped.Significant time is spent reorganizing the limited space available beforeany new hardware upgrades, or testing can occur.

Priorities:

The priority list for this position has not significantly changed sincelast year. Items marked with an I*' are new to the list. Items markedwith a (-' have been downgraded in importance.

s--Accounting programs, Research Leader's requests, computer breakdowns,individual help and training, reports for seed storage, processinggerminations, increase & germination orders & labels, *network installation& operation, new inventory lots, *beta testing of new projects (G205 PC,etc.), purchasing hardware & software.

Moderate-- Curator requests, order processing & IO orders, PRIME Systemmaintenance, field book pages, hardware upgrades, software upgrades,

49

passport proofing, purchasing research, documenting procedures.

Low--Database checking, checking for duplicate accessions, computer back-ups, loading observations, monthly training sessions, defining descriptors,PC cleaning & maintenance, general programming research, computer softwareevaluation, filing & project documentation.

J. Vegetables (K. Reitsma)

Activities--General Summary

Acquisition:

New accessions: 709

Status: 5628 PI-numbers, 1862 Ames-numbers, 7490 total.

50

Maintenance and distribution:

3747 accessions (50%) available for distribution; 6058 packets (3165accessions, 42% of collection) distributed; 2767 accessions (37%)duplicated at NSSL; 804 accessions (11%) attempted regenerations; 0accessions tested for germinability/viability.

Activities--Specific Crop ,%unmaries

ASPARAGUS

Acquisition:

New accessions received: One new accession was received in 1993.

Status: 146 PI-numbers, 18 Ames-numbers, 158 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for Distribution--As of January 1994, 44 (28%) of 148accessions are available far distribution.

#/% distributed--Forty-three packets (32 accessions, 20% of collection)were distributed in 1993.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--No asparagus accessions are currently duplicatedat NSSL. Twenty-six accessions have enough inventory on hand to sendapproximately 1000 seed to NSSL for back-up, but the germination percentageon all of the accessions is considered too low by NSSL's standards. Thismaterial may be sent for backup in the NSSL "surplus storage" area afterthe 1994 collection inventory and storage.

#/% regenerated--Asparagus has not been regenerated at Ames since 1956.The Horticulturist maintains some ornamental accessions as plants in thecampus greenhouse.

#/% tested for germinability/viability--All of the available accessionswere germinated in 1991 to monitor seed viability. These accessions willbe tested again in five years (1996).

Significant progress--There has been no progress in maintaining theAsparagus collection. Asparagus germplasm is difficult to maintain as seedand it would be best if we could find a clonal repository for thiscollection (many accessions are male sterile). Greenhouse space at theNCRPIS is limited and therefore not a viable alternative for maintainingthe Asparagus collection at NCRPIS.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified-- Ninety-nine percent of the collection hascountry of origin specified on GRIN, and 27% of these accessions have analternate id on GRIN. No other characterization of the Asparagus collectionhas occurred. There are a few notes recorded in old fieldbooks, but these

51

data can not be entered on GRIN until descriptors are specified.

Significant progress: None

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: None

52

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: There have been several inquiriesconcerning the vegetable asparagus. Three of the requests were for seed tobe used in asparagus breeding programs to broaden the genetic base ofvegetable asparagus cultivar production.

CICHORIUM

Acquisition:

New accessions received: None.

Status: 62 PI-numbers, 138 Ames-numbers, 200 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--Forty-two PI numbered accessions (21%) of200 accessions of chicory were available as of January 1993. An additional31 Ames numbered accessions could be made available upon request.

#/% distributed-- In 1993, 70 packets (69 accessions, 35% of collection)were distributed as domestic requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--Nineteen chicory accessions (10% of collection) areduplicated at NSSL. An additional 21 accessions can be backed-up when PIsare assigned.

#/% regenerated--In January 1993, 35 Cichorium accessions (17% ofcollection) were started in the greenhouse for regeneration in summerbiennial cages. Thirty accessions germinated for transplanting to fieldcages, and 11 of 13 accessions harvested had small amounts of mature seed.

#/% tested for germinabilitp/viability--Germinations will be performed onthe 1992 and 1993 increases in 1994.

Significant progress--None. Due to environmental stresses, the 1992 and1993 regenerations were unproductive.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Only 33% of the chicory collection has thecountry of origin specified on GRIN. Little information has been enteredin GRIN for Ames-numbered accessions received before GRIN was established.Most of the chicory collection is Ames-numbered, and any additionalpassport data from documentation received with the accessions will beentered on GRIN before Pfs are assigned.

Significant progress--There is no approved descriptor list forcharacterizing the Cichorium collection. A copy of chicory descriptorsreceived from a vegetable breeder in Holland will be used as a model forthe PI Cichorium collection. With the help of the Horticulturist I willattempt to develop a descriptor list to present to the CAC at the 1994

53

meeting.

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: None, as there has been relativelylittle user interest in this crop.

54

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None, as there is no enhancementprogram in the vegetable crops at NCRPIS.

CUCUMIS MEL0

Acquisition:

New accessions received: 456

Status: 2408 PI-numbers, 715 Ames-numbers, 3123 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 1508 (48%) of 3123accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed-- In 1993, 2700 packets (1527 accessions, 49% of thecollection) were distributed for 44 orders-- 2517 packets were shipped asdomestic requests and 183 packets were shipped as foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--The total number of melon accessions duplicated atNSSL is 1222 (39% of the collection).

#/% reqenerated--The 1993 melon regenerations focused on the germplasmrecently collected in India. Of the 437 melon accessions selected for the1993 regenerations 248 were PI numbers with low distribution quantities and189 were new Ames numbered India accessions.

#/% tested for germinabi,lity/viability--None.

Significant progress--The collection "clean-up" is progressing slowly.Many of the accessions must be grown at least two years in a row to produceenough seed to make the accession available for distribution.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Each time an accession is regenerated, theplants and fruits are characterized, and the fruits are photographed.

Significant progress--The SRPIS notes Cucumis melo on GRIN are incompleteand, because the material is open-pollinated, they may no longercharacterize the accessions accurately. Complete notes will be recordedusing the CAC-approved descriptor list when the accessions are regeneratedby controlled pollinations,

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: Drs. C. Thomas and E. Jourdain, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, S.C., continue to evaluate the melongermplasm for downy and powdery mildew resistance as previously unavailableand new accessions become available. Dr. M. Kyle, Cornell University,

55

Ithaca, NY, continues to evaluate the collection for gummy stem blightresistance (data have been loaded to GRIN.)

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None, as there is no enhancementprogram in the vegetable crops at NCRPIS.

CUCUMIS SATIWS

Acquisition:

New accessions received: 204

Status: 962 PI-numbers, 347 Ames-numbers, 1309 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 813 (62%) of 1309accessions are available for distribution,

#/% distributed-- In 1993, 2162 packets or 845 accessions (65%) were shippedin a total of 19 orders-- 40 packets were sent as domestic requests, and2122 as foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL-- There are 718 (55%) accessions duplicated at NSSL.

#/% regenerated--All 180 accessions of cucumber regenerated in 1993 werenew Ames numbered accessions from the India collection.

#/% tested for germinabilitylviability: None.

Significant progress--Many of the unavailable accessions are labeled "hard-to-handle", and require day-length manipulation, growth regulatortreatment, or a longer growing season, to initiate flower and fruitproduction. This work must occur in the greenhouse (hand pollination isrequired) as time permits.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Ninety-eight percent of the cucumbercollection has country of origin specified on GRIN, and 73% of theseaccessions have an alternate id on GRIN. The data for the early Amesnumbers are not on GRIN because the accessions were received before GRINwas established. These data will be entered and verified for each Ames-numbered accession before a PI is assigned.

Significant progress--Basic notes for accession identification are recordedwhenever an accession is regenerated, No characterization data for thevegetables have been entered on GRIN since the late 1970's. (Somefieldbook notes have been put in Key Entry files, but we must determinewhat information should be entered on GRIN and in what format).

56

t ‘

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated: None.

Significant progress: None.

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None.

CUCUWS spcies (wild Cucumis)

Acquisition:

New accessions received: None.

Status: 276 PI-numbers, 10 Ames-numbers, 286 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 107 (37%) of 286accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed-- In 1993, 183 packets (109 accessions, 38% of collection)were distributed in a total of 14 orders--84 packets were sent as domesticorders and 99 packets were sent as foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL-- Twenty-two accessions are currently duplicated atNSSL. After the wild Cucumis inventory is completed this year, anadditional 20-30 accessions should be duplicated at NSSL. I hope tocomplete storage by April.

#'/% regenerated--Twelve C. metuliferus accessions failed to flower in the1992 summer field cages.- Cuttings were taken from the plants in the field,and roots were dug and placed in the greenhouse for hand pollinatedincreases. Fruits were harvested from 10 accessions in April 1993.

#/% tested for germinability/viability--Ninety-two germinations wereperformed on 87 wild Cucumis accessions (30% of the collections) inpreparation to send duplicate material to NSSL.

Significant progress--Accessions in this collection need special handling.Many species require long growing seasons or have become persistent weedsin observation fields. Greenhouse increases will be the primary means ofmaintenance at Ames.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterizedJclassified-- All accessions have a country of originspecified on GRIN, and 41% of them have an alternate "id" on GRIN.Whenever an accession is regenerated a complete description of plant andfruit characteristics is recorded in fieldbooks and the fruits arephotographed.

57

Significant progress--The SRPIS notes on GRIN are incomplete and, becausethe material was open-pollinated originally, the notes may no longercharacterize the accessions accurately. Complete notes will be recordedusing the CAC approved descriptor list when the accessions are regeneratedby controlled pollinations. This collection is also a taxonomic nightmare.I have found publications wherein researchers have reidentified the NPGSaccessions used in their work. Other researchers who concur continue touse the re-identified species name in their publications, citing eachother's work. Meanwhile, NPGS still maintains the accession under theepithet assigned when the seed was received. Since confirmation ofreidentifications are rarely received from the taxonomists in Beltsville,MD, we are updating the species name on GRIN and citing the publishedreferences as the authorities.

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: Several accessions are included inDr. M. Kyle's gummy stem blight evaluation work at Cornell University, NewYork. The data has been loaded to GRIN.

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None, as there is no enhancementprogram in the vegetable crops at NCRPIS.

58

1 ,

CUCURBITA

Acquisition:

New accessions received-- We received 6 new accessions this year.

Status: 783 PI-numbers, 177 Ames-numbers, 960 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 567 (59%) of 960accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed--A total of 366 packets (316 accessions, 33% of thecollection) were distributed in a total of 8 orders--69 packets were sentas domestic requests and 297 packets were distributed as foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL-- There are 410 accessions (43% of the collection)duplicated at NSSL.

#/% regen,erated--Regeneration attempts on 96 (10%) accessions wereunsuccessful. Planting was delayed due to weather and due to virusscreening. After transplanting to the field, plant growth was hindered bythe VERY wet growing season.

#/% tested for germinability/viability--None.

Significant progress--The Plant Pathologist screened all accessions forsquash mosaic virus before plants were transplanted to the field. Wesuspect the majority of the infected plants resulted from using virusinfected seed from the 1992 regenerations. Squash mosaic virus dies whilethe seed is in storage. We will delay the use of newly regenerated seedfor at least one year for future regenerations. We do not know what affectthis seed borne virus may have on our seed distributions. We have notreceived any reports from our users that seed has been infected.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Basic characterization notes for plants andfruits are recorded each year an accession is regenerated, and fruits alsoare photographed. All accessions have the country of origin specified onGRIN, and 72% of the accessions have an alternate id.

S,ignificant progress--No characterization data for the vegetables have beenentered on GRIN since the late 1970s. (Some fieldbook notes have been putin Key Entry files, but we have to determine what information needs to beput on GRIN and in what format.) More funding and a time extension wasprovided to Laura Merrick to enable her to complete her review of thetaxonomy/identification of the NPGS Cucurbita collections. Laura willhopefully provide the Cucurbit CAC and each curator with a reportconcerning her findings before the November 1994 CAC meeting.

Evaluation:

59

#/% evaluated and significant progress: M. Kyle at Cornell Universitycontinues to evaluate C. ~?epo and C.- moschata for resistance ta gummy stemblight.

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None.

DAUCUS

Acquisition:

New accessions received: 8

Status: 570 PI-numbers, 201 Ames-numbers, 771 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 456 (59%) of 771accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed--In 1993, 241 packets (153 accessions, 20% of thecollection) were distributed for a total of 13 orders--l23 were sent asdomestic requests and 118 packets as foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--Only 280 accessions (36%) are duplicated at NSSL,Additional accessions could be duplicated, but the percent germination ofthese accessions is considered too low by NSSL's standards. Theseaccessions may be backed up in the NSSL's "surplus storage" after thecollection is inventoried and stored in 1994,

#c/% regenerated-- Forty-four accessions were planted in November 1993 forregeneration in 1994 summer cages. Ten accessions were sent to RogerFreeman, Sun Seeds, Brooks, Oregon for increase. Also, 25 accessions weresent to Larry Baker, Asgrow Seed, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin for increase.

#/% tested for germinabilitylviability--None.

Significant progress--

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Ninety percent of the Daucus collection hascountry of origin specified on GRIN, and 43% of these accessions have analternate id on GRIN. With the aid of the Horticulturist, each newlyregenerated accession is reviewed for correct taxonomic identification.

Significant progress--No characterization data for the vegetables have beenentered on GRIN since the late 1970s. (Some fieldbook notes have been putin Key Entry files, but we must determine the information to be enteredinto GRIN and its format.) The Horticulturist and f want to start aperennial observation field for the miscellaneous umbels to record completenotes for all of the accessions received since 1984 (the last time when

60

* I

many accessions were planted).

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated None.

Significant progress None.

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None.

OCIMUM

Acquisition:

New accessions received: None

Status: 70 PI-numbers, 5 Ames-numbers, 75 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#t/% available for distribution--As of Sanuary 1994, 41 (55%) of 75accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed--In 1993, 144 packets (51 accessions, 68% of thecollection) were shipped in a total of 4 orders. Seventy-three packetswere distributed as domestic requests, and 71 packets were sent as foreignrequests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--Thirty-nine accessions (52%) are duplicated at NSSL

At/% regenerated: None

#/% tested for germinabilitylviability: None

Significant progress None

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified: None, but ninety-five percent of thecollection has country of origin specified on GRIN, and 49% of theseaccessions have an alternate id on GRIN.

Significant progress--No descriptors have been determined for this crop,and no characterization data for the vegetables have been entered on GRINsince the late 1970's. (Some fieldbook notes have been put in Key Entryfiles, but we have to determine what information should be entered ontoGRIN and its format,)

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: None

61

Enhancement:

#/% en,hanced and significant progress: None.

PETROSELINUM

Acquisition:

New accessions received: 1

Status: 133 PI-numbers, 15 Ames-numbers, 148 total.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 63 (43%) of 148accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed: None.

#/% duplicated at NSSL-- Twenty-three accessions (16%) have been duplicatedat NSSL. More parsley accessions could be sent but their germinations donot meet NSSL's standards. These accessions may be sent for backup inNSSL's "surplus storage" area in 1994.

#/% regenerated: None

#/% germinabilitylviability: None

Significant progress--Many of the accessions in the parsley collectionrequire a growing season longer than that of Ames. Green fruit isharvested from most of the accessions and its viability declines rapidly.Seed viability seems to decrease quickly even when fully mature fruit isharvested. Seed quality is questionable, and few accessions are everrequested, so regenerations have been assigned a lower priority.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified--Ninety-nine percent of the collection hascountry of origin specified on GRIN, and 44% of these accessions have analternate "id" on GRIN.

Significant progress--No characterization data for the vegetables have beenentered on GRIN since the late 1970's. (Some fieldbook notes have been putin Key Entry files, but we must determine what information to include onGRIN and its format.)

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: None

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None, as there is no enhancement

62

program in the vegetable crops at NCRPIS.

MINTS

Acquisition:

New accessions received: 1

Status

Genera included: 1 Calamintha, 1 Dracocephalum,PI-numbers, 6 Ames-numbers, 20 total accessions

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--Four accessionsavailable for distribution.

1 Mosla, 17 Origanum. 14

(20%) are currently

#/% duplicated at NSSL: None

#/% regenerated: None

#/% tested for germinabilitylviability: None

Significant progress--Some of these genera are perennial and may requiregreenhouse cultivation for two to three years to regenerate enough seed fordistribution.

.

#/% distributed--One accession was distributed in 1993.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified-- Seventy percent of the collection has countryof origin specified on GRIN, and only 30% of these accessions have analternate id on GRIN.

Significant progress: None.

Evaluation;

#/% ev,aluated and significant progress: None

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None.

UMBELS

Acquisition:

New accessions received-- We received the following 32 new accessions in theNC7-umbels sitecrop: 12 Angelica, 3 Carum, 11 Coriandrum, 1 Cuminum, 1Foeniculum, 1 Pastinaca, 2 Pimpinella, 1 Sium.

63

Status:

The NC7-umbels sitecrop has 219 PI-numbers, 235 Ames-numbers, for a totalof 440 accessions including: 6 Ammi, 81 Anethum, 13 Angelica, 3Astrodaucus, 20 Bifora, 1 Bunium, 13 Carum, 1 Caucalis, 9 Chaerophyllum,128 Coriandrum, 21 Cuminum, 1 Ducrosia, 8 Eryngium, 4Foeniculum, 1 Levisticum, 2 Muretia, 41 Pastinaca, 30Schumannia, 2 Sium, 6 Torilis, 1 Trachyspermum, and 5Apiaceae.

Maintenance and distribution:

4 3Ferula,Pimpinella, 1unidentified

#/% available for distribution--As of January 1994, 56 (12%) of 440accessions are available for distribution.

#/% distributed--Of 148 packets distributed (62 accessions, 14% of thecollection), 52 packets were shipped for domestic requests, and 96 packetsfor foreign requests.

#/% duplicated at NSSL--Only 34 accessions (7%) are duplicated at NSSL.Due to low germinations, few accessions of these genera are duplicated atNSSL.

#/% regenerated--Fifty accessions each of Coriandrum and Anethum were tobe direct seeded, using the two-row planter, into the field for cageincrease in 1993. We were unable to do this because of the wet growingseason.

#/% tested for germinability/viability: None

Significant progress--There has been an increased interestmiscellaneous umbels included in this sitecrop. By directeach of two genera in one cage with the two-row planter, I

in theseeding one rowhope to make

more of these umbels available in the next two to three years.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified-- Eighty-four percent of the accessions in theNC'I-umbels sitecrop have country of origin specified in GRIN, and 45% ofthese accessions have an alternate id in GRIN.

Significant progress--There are a number of misidentifications in thisgroup of crops. Herbarium specimens will be prepared and sent to

64

Beltsville, MD for reidentification of accessions if the Horticulturist andI are unable to reidentify the accessions ourselves.

Evaluation:

#/% evaluated and significant progress: None.

Enhancement:

#/% enhanced and significant progress: None.

Meetings attended:

I attended the following CAC meetings held in conjunction with the AmericanSociety for Horticultural Science (ASHS), Nashville, TN, July 22-29, 1993:

-Root and Bulb Vegetable Crop Advisory Committee-Leafy Vegetable Crop Advisory Committee-Cucurbit Crop Advisory Committee

Conclusions:

In general, 1993 regenerations were not very successful. Honey bees wereintroduced into all 30 biennial cages, but harvests were very poor. Seedfor most of the Daucus and Cichorium was immature (green) at frost,

Honey bees were introduced into 41% of the Cucumis cages(approximately 70% of the cucumber cages had bees introduced).Fruits were harvested from approximately 179 cages (107 cucumber,72 melon.) Many of the fruits were immature. Seed quality andseed quantity will not be known until germination tests areconducted and the collections are inventoried at storage time.

Appro%imately 750 cages will be prepared for this summer's fieldincreases: 650 Cucumis, 100 Cucurbita, 50 Daucus, 50 Coriandrum, 34Cichorium, and 30 miscellaneous mints and umbels (to be paired withcarrots in cages).

The Plant Pathologist visually inspects cucurbit seedlings beforetransplanting them to the field for regeneration each year.Because of the increasing concern about seedborne diseases in thecucurbits, we will begin to screen all cucurbit seedlings for virusinfection with an ELISA protocol before transplanting accessions tothe field.

K. Crucifers and Grasses (R. Luhman)

Acquisition:

In 1993 the NCRPIS logged into the GRIN database 264 new Brassicaceaeaccessions and six new Poaceae (excluding Zea) accessions. Theseaccessions have been given local Ames numbers and will be considered forformal entry into the National Plant Germplasm System. Additionally, five

65

Brassicaceae accessions from the Northeast Regional Plant fntroductionStation, two Brassicaceae accessions from the Southern Regional PlantIntroduction Station, and two Poaceae accessions from the Southern RegionalPlant Introduction Station were transferred to the NCRPIS. Approximately80% of the 264 new Brassicaceae accessions were various wild speciesreceived from Dr. Cesar G6mez-Camp0 in Spain. The information on thelOOO+ packets of Brassica received from Dr. Paul Williams (Dr. PaulKnowles' collection-University of California) in 1992 was compared toinformation on scanned images of the original cards and it was determinedthat all but 27 accessions were already included in the National PlantGermplasm System. The remainder of the new Brassicaceae accessions loggedinto GRIN in 1993 came from various sources in the Northern hemisphere.The six new grasses were introduced from the former Soviet Union.

Maintenance and distribution:

About 50% of the accessions that I maintain have Plant Introduction numbersand about 80% of those are available for distribution. Most of the 1300+Brassica accessions received from the Northern Regional Research Laboratoryin Peoria, Illinois in 1988 and most of the 15OOt Echinochloa, Panicum, andSetaria accessions forwarded to us in 1987 from the Plant IntroductionOffice lack Plant Introduction numbers. Much of the passport informationthat we have received on the non-Pf'd Indian millets contradicts what waspreviously entered into the GRIN database, so seed and field comparisonsare required to determine the validity of the information.

Three thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight packets of Brassica (1,028accessions), one packet of Brassicoraphanus (one accession), 14 packets ofCamelina (seven accessions), 49 packets of Crambe (32 accessions), fourpackets of Echinochloa (four accessions), one packet of Eruca (oneaccession), one packet of Isatis (one accession), five packets of Lepidium(five accessions), one packet of Linum (one accession), 378 packets ofPanicum (201 accessions), 461 packets of Setaria (279 accessions), 26packets of Sinapis (25 accessions) and one packet of Tridens (oneaccession) were distributed in 1993.

In 1993, duplicates of 237 Erassica accessions were sent to the NationalSeed Storage Laboratory. At present, 36% of the total accessions and 74%of the PI'd accessions that I manage are duplicated at NSSL.

The 1993 Brassicaceae regeneration attempts totaled 277 accessions (136Brassica, 31 Crambe, eight Lepidium, and 102 Sinapis). Four accessions didnot germinate and will be considered for the inactive file. A very rainyApril resulted in a three week delay in field transplanting of 215accessions. Fifteen accessions were left for greenhouse increase. Theremaining regenerations were discarded due to excessive flowering. Remnantseed will be used in a future year to make another attempt at regeneratingthese accessions. For a portion of the regenerations, we were forced tochoose a site used in 1991, resulting in some volunteers (mostly Brassicajuncea). Some of these regenerations may need to be grown in observationplots to check for species purity. MayI June, and July continued to bevery rainy, resulting in poor seed quality and/or delayed harvest. One-hundred and ninety one field and 11 greenhouse regenerations were

66

harvested, cleaned, and are awaiting germination and storage.

The 1993 millet regeneration effort was extensively reduced from previousyears (58 accessions attempted) due to (1) the wetter than normal springand (2) questions about quarantine of a 1987 millet shipment (ca. 5500packets) to the NCRPIS. The 28 accessions harvested this fall have beencleaned but have not yet been germinated and stored. Two Echinochloa, twoSetaria and one Panicum accession were dug from the field and have beenestablished in the greenhouse. These five accessions have not yet setseed.

Table 1 indicates that ca. 2800 germinations were completed during calendaryear 1993. Five year germinations have been performed on Brassica, Crambe,Echinochloa, Eruca, Setaria, Sinapis, and other Brassicaceae collections.Additionally, germinations have been completed on all 1992 regenerations.More than 60% of these germinations have currently been entered into theGRIN database. The remainder of the germinations should be entered by June1994.

61

1993. Attendance at the meeting was relatively poor, with only five fullmembers and three ex-officio members. The main points of the meeting were:

The 'need for a CAC-approved descriptor list was emphasized.

The need for Brassica evaluations was discussed.

t

69

There was concern that Dr. Paul Williams wasn't receiving USDA fundingfor maintaining his collections.

Optimal locations for regeneration of the brassicas were discussed.

The next CAC meeting will be held in Corvallis, Oregon in conjunctionwith the Horticultural Society of America meetings in August 1993.

I attended the Forage and Turf Grass Crop Advisory Committee meeting inCincinnati, Ohio in November of 1993. This meeting was in conjunction withthe ASA-CSSA-SSA meetings. The main points of the meeting weret

Entry of material into the GRIN database before January 29, 1993 wasdiscussed.

The optimal site for Tripsacum regeneration was discussed.

Core collections were discussed.

Publications:

A poster titled Brassicaceae at the North Central Regional PlantIntroduction Station was presented at the 1993 Crucifer Genetics Workshopin Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and at the ASA-CSSA-SSA meetings in Cincinnati,OH.

Future Activities:

The 1994 winter/spring seed processing activities will include processingand storing the 1993 grass and Brassicaceae increase.

Five year germinations will be completed on the Panicum collection.

The 1994 field regeneration will include ca. 200 Brassicaceae accessions(ca. 100 wild accessions and ca. 100 domestic accessions) and ca. 50 grassaccessions. Thirty-two cages will be used for an experiment involvingalternative Brassicaceae pollinators.

We will attempt to complete a CAC approved descriptor list and evaluationpriorities for the Brassicaceae collection.

L. Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenapodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Daleqa, Marina,Melilotus, and Perilla (D. Brenner)

I acknowledge the capable efforts of crew leaders: Bryan Fries and ToddVens, and crew members: Solomon Abel, Phil Brekke, Eric Johannsen, ScottMadden, and Sam Flomo. During the rainy days of last summer, Ron Schweppeand Agbaje Kehinde were temporarily on the crew working on our backlog ofuncleaned seeds.

Important assistance was provided by Lisa Burke and others in seed storage.

Linda Minor and Janae Colvin entered many secondary identifiers and other

70

data into the GRIN database. They processed approximately 150 pages ofnotes for GRIN entry.

AMARANTmS: 3140 accessions

Acquisition and inactivation:

Twenty six accessions were acquired, including twelve advanced lines fromDr. Joshi, in India, and ten wild species, one of which, 5. muricatus, isnew to the collection.

Eleven accessions were inactivated or merged due to duplication within thecollection.

Maintenance and distribution:

ccessions avaifor distribution

ccessionsat NSSL

Three-hundred harvested accessions await storage before they are madeavailable officially.

This was the most productive year ever at NCRPIS for Amaranthusregenerations; during the second most productive year (1992) included 239accessions were regenerated. The number of seed orders remained the sameas in 1992, but the 1993 total is inflated by one requestor submittingseven separate requests. The total of packets distributed 1,576 is updramatically from 877 in 1992; part of this surge results from a 314accession seed order from Hong Kong for evaluating seed starchcharacteristics.

A distribution of A. pumilus to Canada was prevented by endangered speciesregulations. Peter Lundeen is resolving the questions about permits sothat these distributions may resume.

More greenhouse space was available than in other years because of newgreenhouse construction, and because long-term greenhouse assignmentsallowed efficient back-to-back plantings rather than clearing thegreenhouse at the end of assignments. However, as in other years,shortage of greenhouse space was the main limitation to the number of seedincreases attempted.

The field plantings grew well despite planting delays due to wet weather

72

73

and wet weather after transplanting. The plants were shorter than usualbut healthy.

The experimental test of our greenhouse pollen isolation tents was expandedto include four Amaranthus species. The red stem genetic marker will beused to monitor cross-pollination. The space committed to this projectthis year was equivalent to the space required for 36 seed regenerations.

In 1994 the seeds from this project will be germinated and evaluated.

Eighty-nine accessions with Ames numbers were assigned PI numbers.

Characterization/taxonomy/evaluation:

A characterization system is under revision for use in GRIN. A draft listof descriptors was reviewed by four experts. Comments by two additionalexperts are expected soon. After further revision and approval by the CAC,the system will be incorporated in GRIN.

One hundred and forty-eight accessions were re-identified. Most of theidentifications were based on grow-outs. Although my paperwork iscompleted many of these re-identifications have not been corrected in GRINdue to the vacancy in the seed-login position. Dr. Joshi, in India, willpublish a seed list with approximately 1,000 Amaranthus determinations thatwe can use to fill in gaps in our records.

We are completing passport information on 268 accessions from Latin Americaand Nepal. Much of this information is in the form of collector's notesthat were placed in the original seed packets. In many cases, we can findlatitudes and longitudes from provenance data. When the data are complete,the accessions will receive PI numbers.

Enhancement and/or utilization:

The new male sterile accessions selected here in 1992 were described in ashort paper in Legacy. The male steriIes were given PI numbers (PI 568125to 568131) and have already been distributed four times. Hybrids made withthem were healthy, uniform and had excellent seed set and time of maturity.PI 568127 and 568128 male sterile accessions had especially goodresemblance to the cultivar PLAINSMAN. The next steps in commercialdevelopment are yield trials with hybrids, and development of a cytoplasmicmaintenance system. These next steps will require outside collaboration.

A reduced seed shattering project based on crosses with an accession thathas non-circumscissile utricles (PI 572261) has resulted in two non-shattering lineages. Fourteen progenies were studied in 1993 to find thedesired segregates. The non-shattering phenotype is physically sturdy, butthe genetic stability is unknown, and in one case the plant architecture isvery poor. In 1994 small plantings will be studied for genetic stability.

Dr. David Baltensperger of the University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff is alsoworking with these enhancement projects from seeds that we sent him.

Promising accessions:

Ames 21046 to 21057 are the most advanced material from Dr. Joshi'sbreeding program in India. These are probably unadapted to our climate butcould be very useful for the tropics and sub-tropics.

Plans:

74

, .

I will edit the forth issue of Legacy which will be published in the springof 1994.

CEZOSIA 19 accessions

Acquisition: None

Maintenance and distribution:

% of total number ofaccessions

Accessions availablefor distribution

5 26

Seed orders 1 NA

Packets distributed

Accessions distributed

Accessions duplicatedat NSSL

Accessions regenerated

4 NA

4 47

0 0

0 0

Accessions germinated 6 32

Seven harvested accessions await storing before they are made availableofficially.

Characterization/taxonomy/evaluation:

Dr. T Badra published a chapter on Celosia germplasm for leafy vegetableuse (Badra, T. 1993. Lagos spinach (Celosia sp.) in: Williams, Y. T.(ed.). Pulses and Vegetables, Chapman and Ball, London,) This paperdeclares an urgent need to establish collections of "primary diversity"(Badra 1993), rather than the curiosities in existing collections,

Several accessions will be backed-up at NSSL at the time of the nextroutine storing.

Viable Ames-numbered accessions should be assigned PI numbers.

CHENOPODIUM (144 accessions)

Acquisition: Eleven accessions were acquired, including nine cultivatedaccessions from India, and accessions from Argentina, and Chile. TheArgentinian and Chilean accessions are potential new sources of adaptationto temperate conditions.

76

I .

Maintenance and distribution:

% of total number of

Accessions distributed

Accessions duplicatedat, NSSL

38 26

23 15

Accessions regeneratedin 1992

28 19

Accessions germinated 22 15

Twenty-three harvests await storing before they are made availableofficially.

Of the 28 accessions planted for regeneration six failed to germinate, andshould be inactivated. I estimate that 20 accessions have only dead seedand will eventually be inactivated. If they germinate, Chenopodiumaccessions can be regenerated consistently if they are grown in the coolpart of the year, and provided with good lighting, and short daylength.

Characterization/taxonomy/evaluation: Dr. H. Wilson, at Texas A&MUniversity will identify four accessions. He and I discussed theseidentifications by telephone in December 1993.

CORGNILLA, DALEA, GALEGA, and MARINA (162 accessions)- -

Acquisition:

Six accessions of wild species were acquired.

Maintenance and distribution:

% of total number of

Accessions duplicated 3 2at NSSL

Accessions regenerated 12 7

Accessions germinated I 4 I 2

The long-term legume planting was terminated after this year's harvest. weharvested caged honeybee pollinated Coronilla varia seeds from 5 of 9cages. I think that the failures were due to S allele incompatibilities;such difficulties should therefore be reduced in the future with largepopulation sizes. Unfortunately many of our original seed samples aresmall.

Pollinations of the early Coronilla varia flowers were successful, but thelate flowers set seed poorly and are too late for seed maturity.

Four accessions of Dalea enneandra yielded few seeds for the secondconsecutive year of open pollination. A planting of Galegaorientalis yielded many seeds probably because of low leafhopper insectpresence this year.

Plans:

Many accessions will be backed-up at NSSL during the next routine storing.

We will start a new long-term Coronilla varia field planting of 35accessions in 1994 for harvesting in 1995.

MELILOTUS (829 accessions)

Acquisition:

Four new accessions, two of which were transfered from NE-g.

Maintenance and distribution:

1993

Accessions available

% of total number of

Accessions duplicatedat NSSL

227 27

78

Accessions regenerated 44 5in 1993

Accessions germinated 0 0

Ninety-three harvested accessions from earlier years await storing beforethey are made available, although many have already been distributedinformally.

Of the accessions regenerating in 1993, 43 were planted in October forharvests in the summer of 1994. The size of this planting was limited bythe availability of fall-winter greenhouse space. One accession washarvested in the summer of 1993.

79

Characterization/taxonomy/evaluation:

The Clover and Special Purpose Forage Legume CAC chair, Dr. K. Quesenberry(University of Florida), has asked me to select a Melilotus core subsetthat composes 10% of the collection. I will work with Dr. Richard Smith(University of Wisconsin) on this project.

Discussions at the CAC meeting in Cincinnati emphasized the need to replaceour open-pollinated distribution seed lots with control-pollinated seedlots. Our practice of greenhouse (self) pollinating Melilotus album, wasendorsed by the CAC even though it could cause harmful levels ofinbreeding.

Dr. M. Rumbaugh has characterized most of the Melilotus collection in aCAC-supported project. His data have arrived at the NCRPIS and will beentered in GRIN.

Dr. Richard Smith is working on a system for characterizing Melilotus.

Plans:

Passport data, especially provenances, should be entered in GRIN. Thiswill facilitate selection of a core subset and assignment of PI numbers toAmes numbers.

PERILLA (19 accessions)

Acquisition: Two accessions were acquired: both are advanced lines from thebreeding program of Dr. Bong Ho Lee, of Suwon, Korea.

Maintenance and distribution:

1993 # % of total number ofaccessions

Accessions available

Accessions germinated I 1 I 5

Three harvested accessions await storing before they are made availalbeofficially.

80

*

Plans:

The National Seed Storage Lab will perform a routine short-term test ofPerilla seed survival in liquid nitrogen storage. Storage in liquidnitrogen might slow the rapid deterioration in perilla seeds underconventional storage.

Miscellaneous progress:

I completed STAT 401 Statistical Methods for Research Workers during thefall semester at Iowa State University.

I edited the 1993 issue of Legacy, the official newsletter of the AmaranthInstitute.

I assisted the Amaranth Institute by serving as recording secretary atboard meetings.

Professional meetings attended:

NPGS Research Workshop, and NC-7 regional technical meeting, Fort Collins,Colorado, June 29-30, 1993

Clover and Special Purpose Legume, Crop Advisory Committee meetings withthe American Society of Agronomy, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 7-12, 1993

Amaranth Institute Annual Meeting, Ames, Iowa, August 19-20, 1993

New Crops Crop Advisory Committee meeting with The Association for theAdvancement of Industrial Crops, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 25-30,1993.

Publications and presentations:

Brenner, D. 1993. Planting black seeds. Legacy 6(1):11

Brenner, D. 1993. Hybrid seeds for increased amaranth grain yield. Legacy6(1):9-11.

The above paper was translated and reprinted in Argentina with my list ofamaranth seed sources as:

Brenner, D. 1993. semilla hibrida incrementar el rendimiento de1 amaranto.Amarantos Novedades e Informaciones 14:9-10.

Brenner, D. 1993. Perilla: botany, uses and genetic resources. in: Janick,J. and Simon, J. (eds.). New Crops. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.

Williams, J.T. and D. Brenner. Grain amaranths (Amaranthus species).written for publication in: -Williams, J.T. (ed.) Cereals and Pseudocereals.

Brenner, D. 1993. Amaranth seed regeneration in a greenhouse. Presentationat: NPGS Research Workshop, June 29-30, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Tours:

August 1, 1993. Led two tours of the Ames High School Prairie (NaturePreserve) for the AIBS annual meeting.

August 19, 1993. Led a tour of the NCRPIS for the Amaranth Institute annualmeeting.

I made presentations about the Amaranth project at the NCRPIS ProgramReview and at the NC-7 Regional Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Ialso made presentations at several tours of the NCRPIS.

82

M. Sunflower and Miscellaneous asters (M. Brothers)

Acquisition:

New accessions:

In 1993, 24 new Helianthus accessions were received at the NCRPIS andlogged into the GRIN database. In addition, we received 185 accessions ofmiscellaneous asters (18 genera); 183 of these were Vernonia accessions.

Significant progress-- One hundred forty accessions acquired in 1991 fromGerald Seiler's Great Plains collection trip have been cleaned,inventoried, and stored. One hundred nineteen accessions with achenequantities greater than 2000 are available for distribution.

Maintenance and distribution:

#/% available for distribution--The Helianthus collection consists of 1445cultivated H. annuus accessions, 2092 accessions of wild annual Helianthusspecies, an;i 71 accessions of perennial Helianthus species for a total of3608 accessions. Six hundred sixty-four (46%) cultivated H. annuusaccessions, 404 (19%) wild annual Helianthus accessions an: 47 (66%)perennial Helianthus accessions are available for distribution. Overall,31% of the collection (1115 of the 3608 accessions) is available fordistribution to the scientific community. A total of 2318 accessions (64%)have PI numbers.

Twenty-seven of the 267 miscellaneous asters (10%) are available fordistribution. Fifty-three accessions (20%) have PI numbers.

#/% distributed--We distributed 2300 Helianthus achene packets representing1236 accessions or 35% of the collection.

Thirty-six packets of Vernonia were distributed. This represents 9% of themiscellaneous asters (24 of the 267 accessions).

#/% duplicated at NSSL-- Sixty-three Helianthus accessions were sent toNSSL; 25% of the total collection is now duplicated there.

Twenty-one of the miscellaneous asters (8%) are duplicated at NSSL. Noadditional accessions were sent in 1993.

#/% regenerated--In 1993, hand-pollinated, field increases were attemptedon 59 Cultivated H. annuus accessions including three accessionsregenerated at Woodland, California by Pioneer Hi-Bred. Successfulincreases were obtained from 55 accessions. Twenty-four wild annualaccessions and 11 perennial accessions of various Helianthus species werecaged for controlled pollinations using honey bees. Achenes were harvestedfrom 18 of the wild annual accessions and 7 of the perennial accessions.In addition, tubers from 27 H. tuberosus were harvested and are availablefor distribution. Approximately 3% of the total Helianthus collection wasregenerated in 1993.

83

None of the miscellaneous asters were regenerated in 1993.

#/% tested for germinability/viability--No germination testing wasconducted in 1993.

Significant progress--The entire Helianthus collection was inventaried.Seven hundred nine (709) accessions are scheduled for the germinationtesting conducted regularly at 5-year intervals. The status of theperennial Helianthus field collection was carefully evaluated by NCRPISstaff, Dr. Gerald Seiler,and Dr. Edward Schilling. A curatorial programfor the management of the perennial field collection has been devised andis now being implemented.

Characterization/taxonomy:

#/% characterized/classified-- Of the 3608 Helianthus accessions, 3267 (91%)have a country of origin specified on GRIN, 3139 (87%) have an alternateid, 1606 (45%) have additional location data, and 545 (15%) have collector,developer, or institute information. Plant and achene characterizationdata were recorded for all accessions increased in 1993.

Two hundred fifty-eight (258; 97%) of the 267 miscellaneous asters have acountry of origin specified on GRIN, 227 (85%) accessions have an alternateid, 191 (72%) accessions have additional location data and 172 (64%)accessions have collector, developer, or institute information,

Significant progress--Characterization data were completed on the 1991Helianthus increases. Tuber characterization notes were compiled for 27H. tuberosus accessions. The tubers were also photographed for a permanentrecord of each accession. Taxonomic re-identifications were completed on 11perennial Helianthus accessions.

Evaluation:

Helianthus evaluation data for rust tolerance/resistance, oil and fattyacid content,NCRPIS.

and Orobanche tolerance/resistance have been received at the

No evaluation data were received for the miscellaneous asters.

Enhancement:

There were no enhancement programs undertaken at the NCRPIS for theHelianthus or the miscellaneous aster collections.

Support personnel:

Significant accomplishments--The Helianthus biological aide, Irv Larsen,attended a training session on pesticide application and the seminar "Howto supervise people." Irv also enrolled in General Botany 205 at IowaState University.

Meetings attended:

84

The National Plant Germplasm System Research Workshop and Regionalrnmmi ++am man+ i nn. .flrna 3a-2n l?nrt f%-lllina.

Northern Crop

touring the

)n to the joint USDA/ARS-

. ? I

Publications:

Brothers, M.E. and J.D. Kelly. 1993. Allozyme evaluation of uprightcommon bean genotypes. Euphytica 67:65-70.

Brothers, M.E. and J.D. Kelly. 1993 * Interrelationship of plantarchitecture and yield components in the pinto bean ideotype. Crop Sci.33:1234-1238.

Future plans:

Conduct hand-pollinated increases of 100 cultivated H. annuus accessionsand controlled-pollinated, caged increases of 50 wild annual accessions and15 perennial accessions of various Helianthus species.

Continue implementing the perennial field collection management plan.

Begin conducting genetic marker characterization of Helianthus germplasm inthe spring of 1994.

Participate in a Helianthus collection trip throughout Saskatchewan andManitoba, Canada (September 1994)

N. 1993 Seed Storage report (D. Kovachl

Abstract:

Many changes occurred in Seed Storage during 1993. The position of SeedTechnician was filled in May 1993. Also, an increased number of studentworkers were assigned to Seed Storage. This helped increase the number ofaccessions stored at Ames and backed up at NSSL. Several mechanical aidswere designed and fabricated to help with processing perfect samples forZea mays and for storing extra supplies of seed. With end-of-year money wewere able to purchase equipment for testing seed moisture contents andconduct experiments on seed dormancy. Due to the backlog of accessionsthat need to be stored at NCRPIS, limited time was spent on seed research.However, some progress has been made on delineating the biology of Cupheaviscossissima seeds. Plans for the renovation of the seed processing areawere formulated and submitted to Iowa State University architecturalengineers. Future goals for Seed Storage are discussed.

1993 Accomplishments:

The following tables summarize the work accomplished by Seed Storagepersonnel with respect to order processing, and backing up accessions atNSSL. Unfortunately, there was no tracking system for the amount of seedstored at Ames for 1993. We estimate that =1,500 to 2,000 accessions werestored here at Ames. We are currently devising a system of tracking thisparameter for 1994. Our goal in storing seed is to alleviate as muchcurator work as possible. Thus, the process of storing seed has changedfrom previous years. In addition, a complete inventory of the Brassicacollection was done this year.

86

271

Miscellaneous 108 666

Zea 130 2,869

TOTAL 543 18,470

Number of

Zea

TOTAL

467 1,258 1,258

2,355

88

Backlog Status and Plan of Action

The backlog of two site crops are major concerns of seed storage. Previousestimates of the time required to 'catch up' with the backlog of Zea maysand Amaranthus fell far short of the actual time needed. For thisweapologize. We estimate we have processed approximately l/3 of the backlogof maize and l/4 of the backlog of amaranth. How these backlogs occurredis not fully understood by us, but our goal is to prevent this from re-occurring. A 'backlog-of-sorts' also occurs with some Setaria seeds. Thisseed is currently under quarantine and also has questionableidentifications. This crop is given a low priority, due not only to theseproblems, but also because we are not sure if it will remain at NCRPIS.

We continue to give high priority to the maize collection. Two people arecurrently working on storing maize. One person works on amaranth storageas time allows. We also give attention to the other site crops as needed.We do not want to devote too much time to one crop and thereby createbacklogs in the other site crops. Our hope now is to be 'current' by theend of summer.

The issue of extra seed and where to store it was resolved this year.Extra seed will be stored in hermetically sealed foil-lined bags. Thesebags will be placed in cardboard boxes and placed on the top shelves in thesouth cold room. These shelves are not in use, due to the moisturedripping from the ceiling unit.

Seed Technology

This year Seed Storage assisted theprocessing of Zea mays by developing an aidto perfect samzng (see Figure 1). Oneprototype and four modified units weremade. This provided for faster and moreaccurateperfectsampling.These units

p..;;,I.: ' . .

can also be ../Iused for other'crops' if t

3

.;<;q f!. .

needed; e.g.Helianthus. .j!Future plans "".I

!'i_:1 \,!/I

*.include

I \i\\j, 1:. 4, /s.sj/developing a /'

more automatedunit for Figure 2. Seed Divider.perfect Distributes seed tosampling, one, two, or three

extra bags.Seed Storage

Figure 1. Perfect Sampler.Distributes seed to 16 packets.

89

c

also developed a mechanical aid to distributing extra seed into additionalstorage bags (see Figure 2). This was specifically designed to help SeedStorage personnel. In essence, it is a special application seed divider.We estimate a 50% time savings for depositing seed into extra storage bags.

Seed Research

Seeds of Cuphea viscossissima exhibit a deep innate dormancy. Preliminarystudies were conducted this year on seed harvested in 1989. Studies mustbe considered preliminary because of the age of the seed. However,valuable information was obtained for testing freshly harvested seed. Withthis in mind, 1989 seeds, released from dormancy, were grown in thegreenhouse to provide experimental seed. Twenty-four plants producedapproximately 20,000 seeds. Experiments are proceeding on this freshly-harvested seed. Time constraints due to the backlog of seeds needing to bestored have limited the number of experiments conducted so far. Preliminaryresults suggests that dormant Cuphea viscossissima seeds respond well tocold stratification treatments, alternating temperatures with light, andthe possibilities of other treatments that need further verification.

Lab Renovation and Equipment Procurement

With end-of-yearmoney, Seed Storagewas able topurchase three seedgerminators, onemechanical dryingoven, one autodesiccator, and aqualitystereoscope. Theseare currently beingused even thoughsome are stored intemporarylocations. Theequipment will allbe situated in SeedStorage after thelaboratory isrenovated.Renovation planswere submitted toIowa StateUniversityarchitectural

Figure 3. Proposed floor plan for thelaboratory.

--I

Seed Storage

engineers in the last quarter of 1993. Upon completion of the architects'final designs, work will commence on making the lab space more efficient,assuming funds are available. Floor plans are shown in Figure 3.

Future Outlook

90

r *

Future plans for the NCRPIS involve the transfer of the Login position fromComputing to Seed Storage. We also will attempt to re-classify theBiological Technician (GS-4/5) position to a GS-519 Agricultural ResearchTechnician. This will more accurately reflect the work required by theposition.

One of the goals of Seed Storage is to become more helpful to curators inthe area of seed germination and seed health. When the backlog of seedstoring is eliminated, more research into seed dormancy will be tackled bythe Seed Storage manager. Other areas of research to be investigated arecollection recovery, desiccation tolerance, and the development of seed

c ii

I

vigor tests. The matter of seed health will require the additional element ofseed pathology. We propose that this area will be the responsibility of thenew Agricultural Research Technician position (see above paragraph). Agraphical view of the proposed changes is shown in Figure 4.

Seed Storage

Figure 4. Proposed organizational structure of SeedStorage.

92